Amiens have formally lodged a legal action against the French football professional body, the LFP, in a Paris court, for what they view as an unfair and possibly illegal relegation of the club, with ASC sitting 4 points behind Nîmes in 18th after 28 games played.
“The Amiens soldier is not dead and nobody is dancing on its coffin,” affirmed Amiens Sporting Director John Williams in a press conference this morning broadcast over Facebook Live.
Amiens President Bernard Joannin added: “This decision is unjust, incoherent and unfounded. How can you relegate two teams after 28 games played when there is still a quarter of the league to be played? It is a decision that goes against sporting fairness, a decision sanctioned by the league. A championship has 38 matches. 28 games played does not fully demonstrate the performance of teams. Our Lille friends, two years ago, were in 19th after 28 games played, and they succeed in saving themselves.”
The Picardy side’s boss Luka Elsner had his say during the presser this morning too: “The squad has all the necessary resources to do well in the fight that was ahead. We were going to play direct rivals.”
Williams moved to call out Minister for Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, for her role in this decision: “She became a world champion thanks to a great end to a race, the minister is capable of understanding that the final sprint can change everything.”
The club’s lawyer, Christophe Bertrand, sought to make a comparison with a 90 minute football match: “26% of the league was still to be played, it was as if you stopped a match at the 66th minute. Everyone knows that a match is often decided after the 66th minute.”
Joannin has explained what he is seeking to come from his legal action:
“If the judge pronounces the cancellation of this relegation, the world of football will have to get back to the table.”
Joannin intends for the following Ligue 1 campaign to be played with 22 clubs.
