- The Council of State decided Tuesday to suspend the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse in Ligue 2.
- A decision that delighted Bernard Joannin who now considers improbable a contrary decision of the League.
- The president of the Picard club is ready to go all the way and file a new referral to stay in Ligue 1.
For Bernard Joannin, doubt is no longer allowed. The decision of the Council of State dated June 9 to suspend the relegations of Amiens and Toulouse in Ligue 2, necessarily pleased the president of the Picard club. However, the League still has the opportunity to go against the interests of Amiens by choosing to stay at 20 clubs in Ligue 1 next season. An outcome that Bernard Joannin considers very improbable, ready to go all the way to stay in the elite as he explains in this interview given to 20 Minutes .
In Amiens and Toulouse, supporters swing between resignation and hope https://t.co/Am2VuPOXxt
- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) June 10, 2020Are you still so calm for the maintenance of Amiens in Ligue 1 a day after the decision of the Council of State?
Yes. The decision of the State Council is very clear: it suspends the relegation of Amiens, so Amiens is in Ligue 1. It is now up to the League to find a solution on the format of next season [20 or 22 clubs] . We fought for sports fairness and we are very honored to see that the Council of State has validated this position for us. And we are very confident about the future. I can't imagine the League coming to challenge this state decision.
I also launch a solemn appeal to the League and the French Federation: let's stop the legal debates and get around a table to find a solution and adapt this format of Ligue 1. And if it did not happen as that, Amiens SC would assert its rights and immediately refer an emergency before the Council of State.
A new referee would suspend a possible decision of the League against you?
Yes, an interim measure is suspensive. The League has the right to go on the bottom but it would take several months and the season will have already started. We are extremely confident and ready to go the distance. We never wanted to be divisive. We tried to bring all the positions together. Justice has been our last bulwark. We were convinced that the legal arguments were on our side and the decision of the Council of State proved it. The ball is now in the court of the League and the Federation.
Do you really think that the League will decide to keep Amiens?
You are facing a decision from the highest French jurisdiction. I do not know if we will play 20 or 22 next year in Ligue 1 but there is no debate. The Council of State decided to suspend the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse.
If Ligue 1 is played at 22, does it risk overloading the calendar?
It's wrong. The League Cup has been deleted and playing at 22 postpones four more days. The removal of the Coupe de la Ligue therefore makes it possible to find four dates.
What about sharing TV rights with 22 clubs instead of 20?
Again, the difference is minimal. On the way down, Amiens and Toulouse had added 21 million euros in aid for the descent. If we stay in Ligue 1, that's 21 million euros in savings. Also, don't forget that TV rights have increased by 400 million from next season.
We are just talking about an additional cost of 19 million compared to 400. And these four additional games will bring in two more revenues for each home club. For PSG, a match revenue is equivalent to 3 million euros for example. The argument of financial loss therefore does not stand up.
In the worst case, what will relegation mean for Amiens?
Between 40 and 454 million euros in losses. It would be a disaster for all of Picardy. In each match, we employ 300 temporary workers. There would also be job cuts at the club with dozens of families losing their jobs. Football would grow out of this business by taking human positions and solidarity in a difficult period.
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