2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur

Championnat de France Amateur

Season	2016–17
Champions	Grenoble
Promoted	Cholet Entente SSG Grenoble Rodez
Relegated	(10 teams - see "Season outcomes" section)
Top goalscorer	Patrick Etshini Kindenge, Entente SSG 20 goals
Biggest home win	8–0 Monaco (res) v Nice (res) Group D, R14, 14 December 2016
Biggest away win	1–8 Calais RUFC v Entente SSG Group B, R8, 15 October 2016
Highest scoring	9 goals Calais RUFC 1–8 Entente SSG Group B, R8, 15 October 2016 Toulon 4–5 Nice (res) Group D, R23, 18 March 2017
← 2015–16 2017–18 → All statistics correct as of 19:40, 20 May 2017 (UTC).

The 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur was the 19th season of the fourth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition was contested by 64 clubs split geographically across 4 groups of 16 teams each. The teams included amateur clubs (although a few are semi-professional) and the reserve teams of professional clubs.

Teams

On July 15, the FFF ratified the constitution of the competition, and published the groups as follows:^[1]

• 47 clubs who were neither relegated or promoted from the 2015–16 Championnat de France amateur groups.
• 1 team administratively relegated from 2015–16 Ligue 2 (Évian TG)^[2]
• 1 team relegated from 2015–16 Championnat National (Fréjus Saint-Raphaël).
• 12 teams promoted from 2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur 2. (Rennes reserves, Chartres, ES Paulhan-Pézenas, Andrézieux, Reims reserves, Lille reserves, Le Havre, Annecy, Saint-Maur, Montpellier reserves, Raon-l'Étape and Granville).
• 2 teams reprieved from relegation from 2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur (Rodez and Vitré)^[3]
• Sporting Club Toulon, formed from a merger of Toulon-Le Las and Toulon, and taking the former's place in the league.^[4]

On 9 August, the FFF confirmed the decision by Évian TG not to participate in the CFA following the club's recent receivership. Because the decision comes after 15 July, there will be no replacement and Group C will instead operate with 15 clubs.^[5]

League tables

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Rennes (res) (C)	30	16	8	6	44	34	+10	56
2	Cholet[a] (P)	30	14	10	6	46	32	+14	51	Promotion to National
3	Bergerac[b]	30	14	7	9	35	34	+1	48
4	Granville	30	13	8	9	40	41	−1	47
5	Trélissac	30	13	7	10	44	31	+13	46
6	Vitré	30	12	9	9	36	34	+2	45
7	Romorantin	30	12	8	10	35	31	+4	44
8	Fontenay	30	11	9	10	47	49	−2	42
9	Saint-Malo	30	11	9	10	32	32	0	42
10	Paris Saint-Germain (res)	30	12	6	12	44	36	+8	42
11	Lorient (res)	30	10	9	11	41	35	+6	39
12	Chartres	30	7	12	11	33	41	−8	33
13	Mantes	30	7	8	15	23	41	−18	29
14	Plabennec (R)	30	6	11	13	30	37	−7	29	Relegation to National 3
15	Nantes (res) (R)	30	5	13	12	40	40	0	28
16	Châteaubriant (R)	30	6	8	16	26	48	−22	26

Source: FFF.fr
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. Cholet were penalised by the FFF for a technical infringement on submission of the teamsheet in the Round 2 game away at Châteaubriant on 20 August 2016. The original scoreline was 1–2 in favour of Cholet. The match was awarded to Châteaubriant 3–0 and Cholet were deducted a point. Cholet appealed, but currently the decision stands.^[6][7]
2. Bergerac were penalised by the FFF for fielding two suspended players in the Round 22 game away at Cholet on 11 March 2017. The original scoreline was 0–0. The match was awarded to Cholet 3–0 and Bergerac were deducted a point.^[8]

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Entente SSG (C, P)	30	16	10	4	52	20	+32	58	Promotion to National
2	Fleury	30	17	6	7	36	22	+14	57
3	Saint-Maur	30	14	12	4	36	20	+16	54
4	Boulogne-Billancourt	30	15	4	11	48	42	+6	49
5	Arras FA	30	13	7	10	47	34	+13	46
6	Lens (res)	30	13	5	12	36	37	−1	44
7	Drancy	30	9	12	9	28	22	+6	39
8	Lille (res)	30	9	11	10	36	38	−2	38
9	Croix[a]	30	10	8	12	34	36	−2	37
10	Le Havre (res)	30	10	6	14	36	43	−7	36
11	Viry-Châtillon[b]	30	8	12	10	37	40	−3	34
12	AC Amiens	30	9	6	15	30	40	−10	33
13	Poissy	30	8	8	14	37	44	−7	32
14	Wasquehal (R)	30	6	11	13	23	36	−13	29	Relegation to National 3
15	Dieppe (R)	30	6	10	14	21	47	−26	28
16	Calais RUFC[c] (R)	30	7	12	11	41	57	−16	26

Source: FFF.fr
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. On 10 September 2016, the game between Croix and Calais RUFC was abandoned by the referee after the assistant referee was squirted with a water bottle.^[9] On 18 November 2016, the DCNG penalised Croix by deducting a point and awarded the game to Calais RUFC by the score 3–0.^[10]
2. Viry-Châtillon were deducted two points by the DNCG on 13 December 2016.^[11]
3. On 17 January 2017 Calais RUFC were deducted 6 points by the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) for breach of financial rules.^[12] The club appealed, but the ban was upheld.^[13] Calais were deducted a further point by the FFF on 8 March 2017 for not having an appropriately qualified coach.^[14]

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Grenoble (C, P)	28	20	6	2	47	15	+32	66	Promotion to National
2	Le Puy	28	16	9	3	40	15	+25	57
3	Annecy	28	15	5	8	50	32	+18	50
4	Lyon (res)	28	13	7	8	54	44	+10	46
5	Jura Sud	28	12	8	8	44	38	+6	44
6	Villefranche	28	11	7	10	34	34	0	40
7	Reims (res)	28	8	12	8	43	41	+2	36
8	Andrézieux	28	9	6	13	37	44	−7	33
9	Raon-l'Étape	28	8	8	12	37	49	−12	32
10	Chasselay MDA	28	8	7	13	29	37	−8	31
11	Yzeure	28	6	11	11	28	38	−10	29
12	St-Louis Neuweg[a]	28	8	7	13	30	44	−14	28
13	Montceau	28	7	7	14	35	48	−13	28
14	Auxerre (res) (R)	28	6	7	15	35	51	−16	25	Relegation to National 3
15	Mulhouse[b] (R)	28	7	5	16	30	43	−13	22

Source: FFF.fr
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. On 3 January 2017 St-Louis Neuweg were deducted 3 points by the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) for breach of financial rules.^[15] The club appealed, but the ban was upheld.^[16]
2. On 17 January 2017 Mulhouse were deducted 4 points by the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) for breach of financial rules.^[17] The club appealed, but the ban was upheld.^[18]

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Rodez (C, P)	30	18	7	5	43	27	+16	61	Promotion to National
2	Mont de Marsan	30	14	9	7	46	28	+18	51
3	Fréjus Saint-Raphaël	30	15	6	9	46	31	+15	51
4	Toulon	30	12	8	10	42	33	+9	44
5	Colomiers	30	11	10	9	35	37	−2	43
6	Hyères	30	10	13	7	32	22	+10	43
7	Monaco (res)	30	12	6	12	54	48	+6	42
8	Marignane-Gignac	30	10	10	10	47	45	+2	40
9	Tarbes	30	9	12	9	32	32	0	39
10	Marseille (res)	30	10	8	12	30	32	−2	38
11	Martigues	30	10	8	12	33	40	−7	38
12	Nice (res)	30	8	11	11	37	50	−13	35
13	Sète	30	8	11	11	26	28	−2	35
14	Paulhan-Pézenas	30	8	9	13	34	45	−11	33
15	Montpellier (res) (R)	30	8	7	15	26	45	−19	31	Relegation to National 3
16	Le Pontet (R)	30	5	9	16	25	45	−20	24

Source: FFF.fr
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) goal difference; 5) number of goals scored; 6) fair play points; 7) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Season outcomes

Outcomes below are provisional and subject to ratification by the FFF.

Champions and promotions

Cholet, Entente SSG, Grenoble and Rodez are promoted to National. Although Rennes (res) finished at the top of Group A, reserve sides are not eligibile for promotion.

Grenoble are Champions of 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur, due to having the best record of the four group winning sides against the teams finishing in 2nd to 6th in their respective groups.^[19]

Relegation

Plabennec, Nantes (res), Châteaubriant, Wasquehal, Dieppe, Calais RUFC, Auxerre (res), Mulhouse, Paulhan-Pézenas, Le Pontet and Montpellier (res) are provisionally relegated to National 3, subject to reprieves.

Calais RUFC were subsequently given an administrative relegation by the FFF, and as a consequence will play in the top level of regional football in 2017–18.^[20]

Reprieves

On 30 May the FFF announced that Furiani-Agliani were to be denied promotion from 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur 2.^[21] This decision was overturned on appeal.^[22]

On 7 June the FFF announced that AS Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône were to be denied promotion from 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur 2, and as a result Paulhan-Pézenas would be reprieved.^[23] This decision was ratified on appeal.^[22]

If any other administrative events lead to teams from outside the relegation places being relegated, already relegated teams will be reprieved in the following order:

Best 14th placed teams

Based on record against the teams finishing in 9th to 13th place in their respective groups.^[24]

Pos	Team	Pld	Pts	GD
1	Paulhan-Pézenas	10	14	1	Reprieved
2	Plabennec	10	10	-2
3	Wasquehal	10	9	-5
4	Auxerre (res)	10	7	-6	Ineligible

Best 15th placed teams

Based on record against the teams finishing in 10th to 14th place in their respective groups.^[24]

Pos	Team	Pld	Pts	GD
1	Mulhouse	10	14	4	Ineligible
2	Dieppe	10	13	-6
3	Montpellier (res)	10	8	-7
4	Nantes (res)	10	7	-3

Top scorers

As of end of season ^[25]

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Patrick Etshini Kindenge	L'Entente SSG	20
2	Edwin Maanane	Grenoble	19
3	Sébastien Bernard	Arras FA	16
4	Alan Dzabana	Lyon (res)	15
	Mohamed Chalali	Boulogne-Billancourt
	Yannis Dogo	Granville
7	Sébastien Persico	Romorantin	14
	Anthony Petrilli	Trélissac
	Fahd El Khoumisti	Fontenay
	Irvin Cardona	Monaco (res)

References

1. "CFA 2016/2017 : Les groupes dévoilés" (in French). foot-national.com. 15 July 2016.
2. "DNCG : Un club rétrogradé, un autre sauvé (off.)" (in French). foot-national.com. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
3. "Le point sur les repêchages en National, CFA et CFA2" (in French). foot-national.com. 8 June 2016.
4. "Fusion à Toulon : Le Sporting Club de Toulon est créé" (in French). foot-national.com. 25 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
5. "Evian Thonon Gaillard ni en CFA, ni en CFA2" (in French). foot-national.com. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
6. "CFA : Un match à rejouer, le capitaine suspendu un mois" (in French). foot-national.com. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
7. "CFA A : Privé du fauteuil de leader, Cholet va faire appel" (in French). foot-national.com. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
8. "Cholet - Bergerac : La FFF opte pour le match perdu par pénalité" (in French). foot-national.com. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
9. "Croix - Calais : Match arrêté, lourdes sanctions en vue ?" (in French). foot-national.com. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
10. "PROCES-VERBAL COMMISSION FEDERALE DES CHAMPIONNATS NATIONAUX SENIORS MASCULINS §6.3" (PDF) (in French). FFF. 18 November 2016. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
11. "PROCES-VERBAL COMMISSION FEDERALE DES CHAMPIONNATS NATIONAUX SENIORS MASCULINS §6.2" (PDF) (in French). FFF. 15 December 2016. p. 12. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
12. "Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion – Commission Federale de Controle de Clubs – Réunion 17 Janvier 2017" (PDF) (in French). FFF.fr. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
13. "Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion – Commission d'Appel – Réunion du 8 Février 2017" (PDF) (in French). FFF.fr. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
14. "PROCES-VERBAL COMMISSION FEDERALE DES EDUCATEURS ET ENTRAINEURS DE FOOTBALL SECTION STATUT DES EDUCATEURS ET ENTRAINEURS §3" (PDF) (in French). FFF. 8 March 2017. p. 5. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
15. "Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion – Commission Federale de Controle de Clubs – Réunion 3 Janvier 2017" (PDF) (in French). FFF.fr. 3 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
16. "Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion – Commission d'Appel – Réunion du 31 Janvier 2017" (PDF) (in French). FFF.fr. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
17. "Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion – Commission Federale de Controle de Clubs – Réunion 17 Janvier 2017" (PDF) (in French). FFF.fr. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
18. "Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion – Commission d'Appel – Réunion du 8 Février 2017" (PDF) (in French). FFF.fr. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
19. "CFA : Les classements particuliers, Grenoble champion" (in French). foot-national.com. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
20. "DNCG : Un club de CFA rétrogradé, un club de DH promu en N3" (in French). foot-national.com. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
21. "DNCG : Un club privé de montée" (in French). foot-national.com. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
22. "DNCG : Deux montées refusées en appel, deux autres validées" (in French). foot-national.com. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
23. "DNCG : Les décisions du jour en National, CFA et CFA2" (in French). foot-national.com. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
24. "Proces-Verbal: Commission Federale des Championnats Nationaux Seniors Masculins Réunion du 21 Juin 2017" (PDF). FFF.fr. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
25. "CFA". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 June 2020.