France: 3^rd to 5^th divisions to be named National 1, National 2, and National 3 from 2017-18 (FFF)

The National, the CFA and the CFA2 (the third, fourth and fifth levels in the hierarchy of French football) will change their names and become the National 1, the National 2, and the National 3 respectively, from the 2017-18 season, decided the Federal Assembly of the FFF on 28/05/2016 (69.29% of the votes).

These three levels, which include amateur and semi-pro clubs, as well as - in the case of the third division - recently relegated clubs from Ligue 2 which can temporarily maintain their professional license. The soon-to-be named National 1, National 2, and National 3 divisions (organised directly by the FFF) comprise 250 clubs:

• National 1 (third division): 18 clubs
• National 2 (fourth division): 4 groups of 16 clubs each (64 in total)
• National 3 (fifth division): 12 groups of 14 clubs clubs (168 in total)

The future National 3 division "will be organised by the FFF, but the day-to-day sporting and administrative management will be entrusted to the 13 regional leagues, whose territory is the basis for the formation of groups," stated the FFF on 28/05/2016.

"The National…