France considering Final Four tournament to determine Ligue 1 champions | OneFootball

The French FA is considering the introduction of a Final Four tournament to award the title of Ligue 1 champions, according to L’Equipe. The French FA is currently planning to alter the landscape of French professional football with the LFP – Ligue de Football Professionnel, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2’s governing body – set to be scrapped in favour of a new governance structure inspired by the Premier League. It now appears that the very format of the French top-tier is under review.

In what looks like a bid to reintroduce jeopardy and suspense in an era of utter domination by PSG, which have won their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, a French FA task force – led by Toulouse president Damien Comolli – is considering the implementation of a Final Four tournament whose winner will be awarded the title.

Such a format is already used in the Arkema Première Ligue – the French top-tier in women’s football – where the team in first place faces the fourth-placed team in a semi-final. The second semi-final sees the second and third face each other. The final then determines the outright champions. L’Equipe adds that this proposal has been favourably welcomed by several stakeholders in Ligue 1. The outlet adds that the task force is also considering the resurrection of the Coupe de Ligue, but only for teams that do not take part in UEFA tournaments.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval