Luzenac Saga Leaves Players Facing Uncertain Futures
The biggest victims of the Luzenac football club’s administrative collapse are undoubtedly its players, now confronting a harsh social reality. As the Ariège-based club faces relegation from Ligue 2 and National to the amateur DHR level after failing to meet league requirements, the future for many young players and staff remains deeply uncertain.
Fabien Barthez, the soon-to-be former general manager of Luzenac Athletic Pyrénées (LAP), shared his thoughts on the crisis with footmercato.net. He described the situation as a “social tragedy,” highlighting the bleak outlook for those who contributed to the club’s incredible run last season or joined despite the looming uncertainty.
Barthez said, “What will become of the players? I hope some will find a place in National, especially since Noël Le Graët has promised support to help them secure federal contracts. But others, along with the staff, will face unemployment. We were denied promotion to Ligue 2 because our floodlights didn’t meet standards and there was no video surveillance. Everyone shares responsibility, and I accept mine.”
The club had even proposed to drop to CFA 2, but this was rejected by the town hall and local association. Meanwhile, the club’s SASP legal entity will continue, with the second team effectively becoming the first.
Some players anticipated the fallout. Forwards Joseph Mendes and Khalid Boutaïb moved on to Le Havre and Gazélec Ajaccio respectively, midfielder Idriss Ech-Chergui signed with Paris FC, and defender Jérôme Hergault joined Red Star. “It’s a relief,” said Hergault. “For three months, it was a tough situation to live with, but it was becoming a dead end. I’m happy to be at a big club with a strong project.”
Others were not so fortunate. Goalkeeper Régis Gurtner, who joined last May from Boulogne-sur-Mer, now faces an uncertain future. While HAC is reportedly interested, former Evian TG goalkeeper Quentin Westberg, a two-season LAP player, sees unemployment as the most likely outcome. “With the team now playing in DHR, all contracts have been voided. We’ll have to register with Pôle Emploi and look for new clubs. The transfer window is closed, but free players can still be signed. However, it’s a tough market,” he said.
Veteran midfielder Nicolas Dieuze, reflecting on the social consequences, admitted, “This is a social drama, but players won’t suddenly lose their income. We’re not talking about Ligue 1 salaries here. I won’t say it’s the end of my career, but it’s getting closer. I’ll take some time to think—I’m driven by challenges, and I’ll find something, whether in football or elsewhere.”
The Luzenac story remains one of French football’s saddest recent chapters, highlighting how off-field issues can devastate the lives of players and staff alike.
