The French government has acted quickly after an FC Nantes fan was killed in an attack before the game against OGC Nice, with a travel ban imposed on games categorised as high-risk fixtures until the 18th of December. This has led to eight games this weekend seeing restrictions implemented on away supporters. 

The ANS in a statement transcribed by RMC Sport expressed its aim to challenge some of those restricted fixtures, declaring that it will “refer the matter to the Council of State concerning the ministerial and prefectural decrees applicable to matches between FC Saint-Méziery and AJ Auxerre, between Montpellier and Lens, between Nice and Reims, and between Angoulême and Bordeaux.”

Bans on Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 fans deemed ‘very questionable’

The organisation hopes that the Council of State will suspend the bans on those four fixtures stating that the restrictions imposed on these games were “very grossly illegal and unjustifiable” continuing “they are likely, by their late implementation, to create more risks than they are supposed to prevent.”

However, the ANS also wanted to stress that this legal challenge was in no way “intended to minimise the seriousness of last Saturday’s tragedy. No one can doubt the immense sadness which strikes the French stadiums. No one can doubt our sense of responsibility either.”

For the other four fixtures, between Paris Saint-Germain-FC Nantes, AS Saint-Étienne-Nîmes Olympique, FC Lorient-Olympique de Marseille, and Olympique Lyonnais-Toulouse FC, the association conceded that “these orders are very questionable. But they will attract very large crowds. It is too late to shake up their organisation.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Before going on to represent Olympique de Marseille, Montpellier HSC, Nîmes Olympique, Leeds United and Manchester United, Cantona came through the ranks at Auxerre. He came through the ranks at the club in the early 1980s, going on to make 99 appearances for the first team scoring 30 goals between 1983 and 1988.     

Cantona is currently preparing a musical show in the French town, and during a ceremony, his impact at the club was recognised. Emblematic former manager Guy Roux was present at the ceremony as one of the pitches at Auxerre’s training centre was named after the former Leeds and Manchester United forward. 

Cantona went on to represent France on 45 occasions, and he scored 20 goals during that time. In an interview, transcribed by L’Équipe, Cantona paid tribute to his former club, on a day that they paid tribute to him. “Auxerre is a town that really mattered to me. AJA are my family. I experienced some very intense moments here that helped me grow. That a club from a small town in Europe is still at the top after so many years is exceptional,” said Cantona. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The 24-year-old, whose contract expires in 2025, spent last year out on loan at Strasbourg, where he would only make 21 appearances. On his return this summer, he was training separately from the rest of the first-team squad along with the other transfer-listed PSG players.

The former French youth international, who initially joined PSG’s youth ranks back in 2016, made 77 appearances for the first-team – notably playing a prominent role under Mauricio Pochettino during the 2021/22, during which he turned out 32 times in all competitions. This season, he will be playing in Ligue 2 with Auxerre, who were relegated at the end of last season, having been leapfrogged by Nantes on the final day of the campaign.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Dagba has been a member of the “loft” at PSG since pre-season preparations began and is not a part of the club’s long term plans under Luis Enrique. The former French U21 international spent last season on loan with Strasbourg and now looks set to spend another temporary spell away from the Parc des Princes. Auxerre were relegated to Ligue 2 last season. 

The French defender has made 77 appearances for Les Parisiens since graduating from their academy. However, Dagba has not made an appearance for PSG since April 2022. The former Strasbourg loanee’s contract expires in 2025. The right-back will be hoping to find regular football on loan at Auxerre this season. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The veteran arrives on a free transfer after the end of his short-term deal at the end of last season with Lille, who he had joined midway through the campaign from Auxerre. He would make 16 Ligue 1 appearances with the latter side, but would not feature for Les Dogues.

The Caen youth graduate had previously spent six years at Rennes, before staying for five campaigns at Bordeaux. He would eventally leave Les Girondins at the end of the 2021/22 season, which saw the team finish bottom of the top flight after conceding 91 goals over the league campaign.

Costil’s move to Campania will be his first time playing abroad, and he will notably cross paths with former Bordeaux manager Paulo Sousa again. In Salerno, he will also find two compatriots in former Montpellier man Junior Samba, and former French international Franck Ribéry in the technical staff.

According to L’Équipe, a couple of clubs have already submitted formal contract offers to the Senegalese international: newly promoted to LaLiga outfit Las Palmas and Turkish 1st division club Konyaspor, who finished 8th in the Süper Lig last season.

Serie A outfit Salernitana have also placed him on their shortlist in the event that they lose fellow Senegalese international attacker Boulaye Dia this summer. According to sources contacted by Get French Football News however, he does not sit high on their shortlist.

Niang will be hoping to find some level of stability, wherever he goes next – he knows Serie A well having had previous spells there with AC Milan, Genoa and Torino, making 107 appearances and scoring 17 goals.

GFFN

The 20-year-old found the net twice as Auxerre were relegated on the final day, having been overtaken by Nantes after Les Canaris pulled off a timely first win since February against Angers. He also scored in the team’s brief Coupe de France run.

According to Le Parisien, Reims are interested in signing Abline, having already brought in young Ivorian forward Oumar Diakité as part of their drive to replace the departing Folarin Balogun’s goal haul from last season.

Rennes are said to be asking for €8m for their youth academy graduate, and the Champagne side are not the only club looking to bring in the French youth international – who was not called up for the U21 Euros which start this week. In France, Strasbourg are also keeping an eye on him, while a move to Lorient could also see Abline remain in Brittany. Sunderland are also among the potential destinations for the forward, although Abline himself would like to stay in France for the time being. 

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin  

The most complicated back is at the top. The Europa League and the Europa Conference League spots are still up for grabs. Currently, fourth place, the equivalent of qualification for the Europa League, is occupied by Lille OSC. Fifth place, which is enough to earn Europa Conference League football for next season is occupied by Stade Rennais, whilst AS Monaco are in sixth, and only behind Rennes on goal difference. Should results go their way, Les Monégasques could still achieve Europa League football this season. 

What do Lille have to do for European football? 

Lille will finish fourth should they beat ESTAC Troyes on Saturday. Les Dogues would also secure fourth should they draw, and Rennes and Monaco fail to beat their respective opponents. They can even afford to lose and still finish fourth should Monaco and Rennes also lose. Lille would finish fifth if they drew and one of Monaco or Rennes win. Should Paulo Fonseca’s side lose, Rennes not lose, but Monaco lose against Toulouse, that would also earn Lille fifth place. 

What do Rennes have to do for European football?

Rennes will finish fourth if they beat Brest and Lille don’t beat Troyes. They would also secure Europa League football if they draw, Lille lose and Monaco fail to win. Bruno Génésio’s side will finish fifth if they win and Lille also win. Given their superior goal difference, Rennes will secure Europa Conference League football should they better or equal Monaco’s result against Toulouse. 

What do Monaco have to do for European football? 

To secure European football, Monaco must rely on other results going their way. To finish fourth, Les Monégasques have to beat Toulouse and hope that Rennes and Lille don’t win. They could also secure Europa League football with a draw, but Lille would have to lose heavily, and Monaco win by a heavy scoreline. To finish fifth, Monaco must better Rennes’ result. 

Will sixth place be good enough for Europe? 

There is the possibility of sixth place being good enough for Europe. Toulouse qualified for Europe by winning the Coupe de France, however, they may not be able to compete in the Europa League next season. As part of a multi-club model, which includes AC Milan, Toulouse may be prevented from competing, as UEFA rules currently state that two clubs with the same owner can’t compete in the same European competition. As the Europa League is the middle European competition, hypothetically, AC Milan could be drawn against them at some point in the tournament. Should this happen, sixth place could be good enough for the Europa Conference League. Should Monaco lose and Lyon beat Nice, Lyon would earn European football for next season. For Monaco, a draw would be enough to retain sixth, regardless of results elsewhere. 

How do Nantes get themselves to safety? 

There is also one relegation place to play for. Angers, Troyes and Ajaccio are already down, and Nantes currently occupy the final relegation spot. They are two points behind Auxerre. Nantes play bottom-placed Angers, whilst Auxerre face Lens. Nantes have to win to have any chance of survival. All eyes would then turn to Auxerre. A draw would leave the two sides level on points, but Nantes, with their superior goal difference, would stay up. A victory for Auxerre against second-placed Lens would seal Nantes’ relegation to Ligue 2. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle 

Les Canaris had a comfortable lead on the 4-team drop zone, but a long run of poor results in the league, combined with exhausting runs in the Coupe de France as well as in the Europa League, has seen the 8-time French champions collapse in the standings, eventually costing Antoine Kombouaré his job as manager.

Nantes’ U19 coach Pierre Aristouy picked up the mantle. Despite slight improvements in the way the team plays, Nantes still look unable to return to winning ways. Les Canaris have failed to clinch a league win since February. The situation is as it stands: Nantes have a 2-point deficit on 16th-placed Auxerre, which means only a win against bottom-placed and Ligue 2-bound SCO Angers would give Les Canaris a chance of survival. A loss or a draw would mean relegation.

Should Nantes clinch a win against Les Scoïstes, all eyes will turn to Auxerre’s result. The Yonne side will host second-placed RC Lens. On paper, the Artois side are overwhelming favourites. However, Lens have nothing to fight for any more as their second-place finish is already confirmed, whilst Auxerre are expected to put up the fight of their lives. In the case of an eventual Nantes victory, Auxerre need to win against Les Sang et Or to confirm safety. Should Nantes win and Auxerre get a draw, both teams would be level on points, and the former would keep their Ligue 1 status. Nantes’ better goal difference (-19) than Auxerre (-26) could prove crucial come Saturday night.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Massengo, whose contract with the Robins is set to expire next month, joined relegation-battling Auxerre on loan during last winter’s transfer window. The Franco-Congolese midfielder played 13 league games with the Yonne side. Auxerre are 16th in the French top flight and will look to secure their status next Saturday against second-placed Lens. The Christophe Pélissier-led side has only a two-point lead on Nantes.

Massengo was discarded by Bristol City and sent on loan as he declined to sign a new contract with the Championship outfit. Foot Mercato reports that Burnley head coach Vincent Kompany is a keen admirer of the 21-year-old midfielder. The outlet adds that Massengo’s experience of English football, with more than 100 games played in the Championship, is highly regarded by the Clarets, who are seriously considering a move for the soon-to-be free agent. L’Équipe reported on Sunday that Troyes forward Mama Baldé (27) was also being targetted by the promoted side.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval