France: FC Sochaux confirms it is under threat of administrative relegation after the 2017-18 season

"FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (Domino's Ligue 2), following its hearing on 11/12/2017 with the DNCG (sports control in France), confirms that it has received a notification. The DNCG has warned the club and its shareholder that the expenses of its budget for the 2018-19 season should be fully covered at the next hearing in May, at the risk of administrative relegation," stated FC Sochaux on 05/02/2018.

"While the 2017-18 FCSM budget is financed and validated by the DNCG, a payment of one million euros has already been made (before 31/01/2018, as the shareholder of the club had been committed), with a view to the next season," added the club.

This club press release constitutes the response of the club to the article of the local newspaper L'Est Républicain which reported, on 05/02/2018: "In a letter dated 05/01/2018, the financial control of French football stipulates for the 'demotion' of the first team at the end of the 2017-18 sporting season. A decision that sounds like a direct sanction to the management operated by the president (Wing-Sang) Li since his purchase of the club in…