Here we show you some of the biggest controversies in Ligue 1 history
The top division of French football, has seen its fair share of controversies over the years. From match-fixing scandals to racism and sexism, the league has had to deal with a number of issues that have tarnished its reputation.
These are just some of the controversies that have surrounded the Ligue 1 in recent years. Despite these incidents, the league remains one of the most popular and highly-regarded football leagues in the world.
There have been no issue with the league’s popularity, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the top teams and players in action.
Here are some of the most notable controversies in Ligue 1 history.
Controversies In Ligue 1
7. Marseille’s Match-Fixing
The first major controversy in Ligue 1 was in 1998 when Marseille were found guilty of match-fixing and were stripped of their 1993 title. The club was found to have bribed players from other teams to ensure they won matches.
This scandal resulted in a number of players being banned from football for life and Marseille being relegated to the second division.
6. PSG and Racism
In 2004, Paris Saint-Germain were accused of racism after their fans racially abused Lyon’s Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson during a match.
The incident sparked outrage across France and led to PSG being fined €50,000 by the French Football Federation (FFF).
5. Monaco’s Financial Problems
In 2006, Monaco were found guilty of financial irregularities and were deducted points for two consecutive seasons as punishment.
This resulted in Monaco dropping from first place in the league table to last place within two years.
4. illegal Betting
In 2011, Ligue 1 was rocked by another scandal when it emerged that several clubs had been involved in illegal betting on matches.
The FFF launched an investigation into the matter and several clubs were fined or suspended as a result.
3. Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Sexism
In 2013, sexism reared its ugly head when Paris Saint-Germain’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi made sexist comments about female journalists during a press conference.
He was subsequently fined €30,000 by the FFF for his remarks and forced to issue an apology.
2. Nice and Racism
In 2015, racism again became an issue when Bastia fans racially abused Nice’s black players during a match at Stade Armand Cesari stadium.
The incident sparked outrage across France and led to Bastia being fined €50,000 by the FFF for their fans’ behaviour.
1. illegal Transfers
Finally, in 2017 Ligue 1 was rocked by another controversy when it emerged that several clubs had been involved in illegal transfers involving minors from Africa and South America.
The FFF launched an investigation into the matter and several clubs were fined or suspended as a result.
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Overall, these controversies have highlighted some serious issues within French football that need to be addressed if Ligue 1 is going to maintain its reputation as one of Europe’s top leagues.
It is clear that more needs to be done to ensure that such incidents do not occur again in future seasons if Ligue 1 is going to remain competitive on both domestic and international levels