Ligue 1: five questions to understand the decisions of the Council of State

Who are the big winners?

Amiens (19th) and Toulouse (20th) can take out the champagne. Relegated to Ligue 2 by decision of the Professional Football League after the end of the season at the end of the 27th day, the two clubs should finally play the next season among the elite. The highest administrative court in France has ruled in favor of the two clubs' requests by suspending the principle of relegation. Toulouse, less present on the media field than the Amiens, on the contrary extremely determined in their approach, but adopting an identical position, also benefits from this decision which will upset the established order of Ligue 1.

Official press release from Amiens SC.

https://t.co/HEOcD2Jqmvpic.twitter.com/JMMgXFV586

Who are the big losers?

The request of Olympique Lyonnais was rejected by the Council of State.

Unlike Amiens and Toulouse, OL and Jean-Michel Aulas did not succeed with the Council of State which rejected his request. The president of Gones had asked the suspension of the decision of the LFP to formalize the end of the season and to "re-examine the conditions allowing to consider a resumption of competitions in August, or failing this, to pronounce the 2019 season -2020 white season ". The classification being "validated" by the summary judge, OL, 7th, is therefore not qualified for a European Cup next season. The Lyon club has two ways to achieve this in the coming weeks: a victory in the Coupe de la Ligue against Paris SG in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue or a victory in the Champions League. Rudi Garcia's men must face Juventus Turin in the round of 16 (1-0 first leg victory) on a date yet to be confirmed.

What about Lens and Lorient promoted to Ligue 1?

Lens and Lorient, who acquired their rise in Ligue 1 by finishing respectively 1st and 2nd in Ligue 2 are not directly concerned by the decision of the Council of State on Tuesday. The jurisdiction ruled on the requests of Lyon, Amiens and Toulouse and invalidated the relegations of the latter two. The surges of Sang et Or and Merlus are not questioned. The judge ordered the LFP, in conjunction with the competent bodies of the FFF, "to re-examine the question of the format of Ligue 1 for the 2020-2021 season." This decision therefore opens the door to a Ligue 1 to 22 next season.

Do the texts provide for a League 1 to 22?

The agreement between the Professional Football League and the French Federation provides for a League 1 to 18 or 20 clubs, but this will end on June 30. "A new agreement must be signed," said the judge. The Professional Football League and the FFF could therefore come to an agreement to extend the 2020-2021 championship containing all the parties to twenty-two clubs. In a press release that followed the decisions of the Council of State, the Professional Football League (LFP) stated "to be delighted with these two decisions which allow us to look to the next season" and "also takes note of the demand of the Council of State to re-examine in connection with the FFF the question of the format of Ligue 1 for the 2020-2021 season by June 30, 2020. "

Is this a disavowal for the FFF?

Yes, it is a snub even because Noël Le Graët had relapsed the principle of a Ligue 2 to twenty-two clubs (with the maintainers of Le Mans and Orleans relegated to National) while the LFP had voted for this enlargement (57 % of the 40 elite clubs were in favor). "The two regulatory descents planned for the 2019-2020 season are maintained and the Ligue 2 championship will remain at 20 clubs for the 2020-2021 season," the FFF said in a statement which put an end to the project. The Breton leader thought he had the last word but the decision of the State Council will reshuffle the cards of professional football (Ligue 1 and Ligue 2). Noël Le Graët and the LFP will have to find common ground by validating, perhaps, a Ligue 1 at twenty-two and, why not, a Ligue 2 at as many clubs. Le Mans and Orleans will also challenge the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) on Thursday morning the FFF's refusal to widen the Ligue 2 championship to 22 clubs to save their heads. The fate reserved for Toulouse and Amiens, in a position identical to theirs, necessarily strengthened them in their desire to go to the end of their fight. 

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• The Council of State retires Lyon and suspends the relegations of Amiens and Toulouse