The 2019-20 Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 seasons have been "called off" and there will be no football in France until September.
PSG have been confirmed as "champions", Marseille have qualified directly for the Champions League while third-place Rennes will enter the qualifying rounds, with Toulouse and Amiens relegated. But personally, I still feel this has a little way to run.
Lyon and Amiens have already voiced their displeasure and spoken openly about taking this decision to appeal and maybe through the legal process in court....................
Seventh-placed Olympique Lyonnais, who have missed out on a European place, said they would possibly appeal against the LFP's decision to end the season.
Lyon were just one point behind 6th-placed Nice, who have qualified for the Europa League, with 10 matches to play.
"Olympique Lyonnais reserves the right to appeal against that decision and claim damages, in particular in respect of loss of opportunity and in the light of the case-law of other professional sports which is currently under way, since the damage to the club amounts to several tens of millions of euros," they said in a statement.
"We proposed as early as Tuesday that the league study an alternative solution that would allow the championship to end and thus preserve the fairness inherent in any sporting competition and be in line with UEFA's proposals based on sporting merit according to objective, transparent and non-discriminatory principles.
"This solution, shared by other clubs, was based on the principle of play-offs and play-downs, a championship title acquired by PSG, with a calendar limited to three weeks consistent with health constraints, and an innovative formula that could normally have interested broadcasters, currently short of content, as well as sports betting and all the other economic players in the football sector."
Amiens, who were four points behind 18th-placed Nimes, revealed they would further analyse the reasoning behind the decision reached by the LFP before deciding whether to pursue a legal complaint.
Amiens president Bernard Joannin said in a Facebook live broadcast: "Injustice prevails. Amiens could not defend to the end, on the pitch, to remain in Ligue 1.
"I will fight with all the teams to assert our right, because I think this decision is not right. We will wait for the minutes of the LFP board of directors.
"There will be the passage to the general assembly, and we reserve the right to go further so that justice passes."
How you can be relegated with 30 points still to play for is beyond me .
I feel other leagues will think very long and very hard before making similar decisions and the top six clubs in the Championship in England met as early as March to discuss the possibility of legal action if the Premier League looked to deny them the chance of promotion.
I just do not understand the argument of major leagues not finishing the 19-20 season first once football returns, whenever that might be and why did the French jump the gun when no decision had to be taken for another four weeks at the earliest ?
Yes, many things are more important than sport, but it will return at some stage and when it does, let's finish what we started first. If the following season needs to be shortened , then so be it, but everyone will at least know the competition rules and format from the start and guidelines for future interruptions can be put in place if deemed necessary.
In Ligue 2 , Lorient and Lens were "promoted" no decision on relegation until May 20th (!) , Ajaccio , Troyes and Clermont are all within four points of the top of the table with 10 games still to play and will surely be considering some kind of group action. Ajaccio have long felt they were taking on French football single handedly and it could really only have been them who finished third, what a troubled history they have !
Good luck !
