France: Luzenac AP refuse CFA 2; "damages would reach several million euros" (J-J Bertrand)

The Luzenac Ariège Pyrénées club refused the FFF's (French Football Federation) proposal to play in CFA 2 (French fifth division) in the 2014-15 season without an automatic promotion to the National (French third division) in 2015-16, the club announced on 10/09/2014.

Luzenac AP, second in the National in 2013-14, had demanded its exceptional re-integration into the National championship to the FFF on 05/09/2014. This request followed the rejection of the interim measures introduced by Luzenac AP to the Administrative Court in Toulouse. The decision of the Administrative Court confirmed the decision of the board of the LFP (Professional Football League), who declined the promotion of Luzenac AP to Ligue 2 on 27/08/2014.

"The Federation's answer does not correspond to our demand. Luzenac AP had won, on the football pitch, the right to play in Ligue 2. Taking note of the league's refusal, it asked to be reinstated in the National, but the FFF now demands that the club start again two divisions below. That is not acceptable," said Jean-Jacques Bertrand, one of the lawyers for the club…