National 1 side FC Annecy have been drafted back into Ligue 2, the LFP has officially announced. The Savoy side, who ended the past campaign in 17th place due to Rodez’s win against Bordeaux by default (after a Rodez player was assaulted by a Bordeaux fan), are due to benefit from Sochaux’s financial woes. On Tuesday, Sochaux’s appeal against their administrative relegation into third-tier National 1 by the DNCG were rejected by the CNOSF – Comité National Olympique et Sportif Français, France’s highest sporting authority.
Romain Peugeot, a private investor and the great-grandson of the club’s founder, tried to raise the required funds to save Sochaux, to no avail. On Wednesday, Peugeot then tried to appeal the CNOSF ruling before the Paris’ administrative court. However, according to L’Est Républicain, this appeal was denied as well. With Sochaux likely unable to prepare a budget for a season in the third-tier, the club is now heading for an imminent bankruptcy. Peugeot has reportedly thrown in the towel for his proposed takeover of Sochaux.
With Ligue 2 set to start as early as this Saturday, the League has announced that it has triggered Article 520 of their administrative rules, allowing the last relegated Ligue 2 side to be drafted back into the second-tier. The LFP added that Annecy will therefore kick-off their Ligue 2 season this Saturday against Guingamp. Due to the very short delay to stage the game, Annecy v Guingamp will be played behind closed doors.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
