FC Nantes’ Bid for Victory Rejected by Appeals Court in Forfeit Case
FC Nantes’ legal battle to retain a 2-0 victory over Bastia in the opening match of the 2013-14 Ligue 1 season has ended in disappointment, as the Nantes Administrative Court of Appeal has ruled against the club’s appeal.
The controversial match, initially won by Nantes, was later ruled a forfeit by the Ligue 1 authorities after the club fielded a suspended player, Abdoulaye Touré. Despite this ruling, Nantes had sought to overturn the decision, with President Waldemar Kita’s club hoping to recover the three points.
The club’s argument, supported by the public rapporteur, was that the automatic penalty should be reconsidered, given that the suspension of Touré was not intended to give the club an unfair advantage. The rapporteur argued that the principle of individualizing penalties in accordance with the specifics of the case could lead to a more lenient ruling.
However, the Nantes Administrative Court of Appeal has sided with the original ruling, dismissing the club’s appeal and upholding the forfeit decision. This decision follows the advice of the public rapporteur, who had suggested that the sanction could have been more proportionate.
Had the appeal been successful, FC Nantes would have been able to recover the three points, boosting their position from 13th to 8th in the 2013-14 season standings. The three additional points could have also seen the club secure an extra €3 million in television rights revenue.
The full reasoning behind the judges’ decision is expected to be made public within the next 48 hours, providing further insight into the legal process that led to the dismissal of the club’s claim.
Nantes will now have to refocus its efforts on the remainder of the season, knowing that the appeal’s failure means that the initial forfeit ruling will stand. The club’s legal team, however, has vowed to continue fighting for fairness in the French football system.
