Rennes (AFP)

Le Mans and Orleans, relegated to National after the refusal of the French Football Federation (FFF) of a Ligue 2 to 22 clubs, will defend this week before the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).

Le Mans president Thierry Gomez announced last week that an appeal was imminent. It has been filed and a hearing is scheduled for Thursday, the club said on Monday.

For his part, the president of Orleans, Philippe Boutron, announced Saturday that his club had also filed an appeal and that he had to go before the CNOSF conciliator "midweek".

To avoid the relegation of the two clubs, the Professional Football League (LFP) had accepted the idea of ​​a League 2 to 22 next season, but the FFF opposed it, arguing that such a measure would risk '' have an impact on the numerous appeals filed by clubs challenging their relegation to other levels.

But Le Mans and Orléans stress that the agreement between the FFF and the LFP, renewed for 2020-2024, provides that the L2 can have up to 22 teams.

"The Comex (of the FFF) rejected this decision by putting forward the best interest of football. The objective of our appeal is to know what is the best interest of football", explained M Boutron.

The president of Orleans also said "very surprised that the federation did not take into account the economic dimension of the situation".

The anticipated end of the 2019/2020 season has already lost 800,000 euros in revenue to the club. And relegation to National will increase the budget "which was close to 10 million this year to 5 million next year," he said.

The CNOSF must issue an opinion which it will transmit to the FFF. Then, "the ultimate recourse is to go to the Council of State, which would be before the end of June", explained Mr. Boutron, promising to "go to the end of the process".

At the same time, the two clubs are preparing for the next National season.

"If in a fortnight, a month, we are drafted, don't worry, we will be able to adapt. But today, we are in National (...). We have to accept it (...). is going to be a complicated, tough championship, we will have to prepare for it ", insisted Mr. Gomez last week.

© 2020 AFP