May 5 – In the latest example of the furious reaction and potentially legally complex situation that can occur when leagues are wound up prematurely because of Covid-19, Amiens SC have launched an online petition calling on France’s Professional Football League (LFP) to review its decision to relegate the club.
The LFP decided to abandon the 2019-20 season on Thursday, with Paris St Germain being awarded the Ligue 1 title and Amiens and Toulouse relegated.
Amiens, 119 years old, were four points from safety with 10 matches to play, winless in 16 matches but having picked up draws in five of their last seven games before the season was halted in March.
The club, who were second from bottom just 0.14 points behind Nimes, wants the league to reconsider relegating two clubs and instead conduct Ligue 1 next season with 22 teams instead of 20, including Lorient and Lens who were promoted from Ligue 2.
“Following the decision to demote Amiens SC to Ligue 2 after only 28 games played out of 38, Amiens SC is launching a petition to seek justice in the face of this decision that goes against fairness in sport,” the club said.
“Amiens SC is asking the Football League to review its position and make the fairest choice: a Ligue 1 with 22 clubs for the 2020/2021 season. Supporters from Amiens and football lovers, support our initiative that would make football and sport grow.
“This decision is, for our club, all our players, coaches, administrators, volunteers and supporters, extremely fraught with consequences.
“Pending the publication of the minutes of board of directors’ meeting, Amiens reserve the right to contest this decision, since sporting merit, in this particularly difficult period for all, should on the contrary have led the various decision-making bodies not to pronounce any relegation.”
Even the city’s mayor has got involved saying the club exiting Ligue 1 makes the area “lose part of our attractiveness as a city by default.”
Olympique Lyonnais have already said they will seek millions of euros in damages as they face being deprived of European competition for the first time in a quarter of a century.
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