Championnat de France Amateurs 2
Encyclopedia
The Championnat de France amateur 2, commonly referred to as simply CFA 2 and formerly known as National 3, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fifth division of the French football league system
behind Ligue 1
, Ligue 2
, Championnat National
, and the Championnat de France amateur. Contested by 128 clubs, the Championnat de France amateur 2 operates on a system of promotion and relegation
with the Championnat de France amateur and the regional leagues of the Division d'Honneur
, the sixth division of French football. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in eight groups playing 34 games each totalling 2720 games in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.
The Championnat France de amateur 2 was founded in 1993 as National 3 and lasted for five years before being converted to the current format used today. Most clubs that participate in the league are amateur clubs, hence the league name, but a small amount of clubs are semi-professional
. The matches in the league attract on average between 200 and 400 spectators per match. However, this average is dragged down by the minuscule turnouts for the pros' home reserve matches. The current champions are the reserves of Metz
who accumulated 107 points in Groupe C to earn promotion to the fourth division. The winners of the other seven groups were Calais
, Aubervilliers
, Monts d'Or Azergues
, the reserves of Monaco
, Béziers
, Le Poiré-sur-Vie
, and the reserves of Lorient
, respectively. All seven clubs, alongside the champions and the four-best runner-up clubs, earned promotion to the Championnat de France amateur.
, the third division of French football, which is commonly known as National. For the first three years of the competition, an amateur champion was crowned in France regardless of whether the club was amateur or a reserve team.
There are 128 clubs that participate in the Championnat de France amateur 2 annually. The clubs are split into eight parallel groups of 16 with their group affiliation being based on the regional location
of the club. The league is open to reserve teams in France and amateur clubs in France and both are eligible for promotion to the Championnat de France amateur. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others in their respective group twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Since the league is considered amateur, teams receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. One point is awarded for a loss. A club gets no points from a game for certain disciplinary reasons or if they forfeit. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference
, and then goals scored.
At the end of each season, the club with the most points, regardless of the group, is crowned champion and promoted to the Championnat de France amateur. If points are equal, head-to-head match results, followed by the goal difference, and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship or for relegation, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The seven other highest-placed amateur teams in the other groups are also promoted, while the three lowest-placed teams from each group are relegated to the Division d'Honneur. Alongside the winners of the groups, the top four second-place finishers, regardless of group, are also promoted to the fourth division.
French football league system
The French football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Below that are a number of leagues run by the...
behind Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
, Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
, Championnat National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
, and the Championnat de France amateur. Contested by 128 clubs, the Championnat de France amateur 2 operates on a system of promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
with the Championnat de France amateur and the regional leagues of the Division d'Honneur
French football league system
The French football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in France. At the top two levels of the system is the Ligue de Football Professionnel, which consists of two professional national divisions, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Below that are a number of leagues run by the...
, the sixth division of French football. Seasons run from August to May, with teams in eight groups playing 34 games each totalling 2720 games in the season. Most games are played on Saturdays and Sundays, with a few games played during weekday evenings. Play is regularly suspended the last weekend before Christmas for two weeks before returning in the second week of January.
The Championnat France de amateur 2 was founded in 1993 as National 3 and lasted for five years before being converted to the current format used today. Most clubs that participate in the league are amateur clubs, hence the league name, but a small amount of clubs are semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
. The matches in the league attract on average between 200 and 400 spectators per match. However, this average is dragged down by the minuscule turnouts for the pros' home reserve matches. The current champions are the reserves of Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
who accumulated 107 points in Groupe C to earn promotion to the fourth division. The winners of the other seven groups were Calais
Calais RUFC
Calais Racing Union FC is a French football club based in Calais, France.-The Club:The club was founded 1902 as Racing Club de Calais and was in the year 1974 renamed in Calais Racing Union Football Club....
, Aubervilliers
CM Aubervilliers
Football Club Municipal d'Aubervilliers is a French association football club based in Aubervilliers, a suburb of Paris. The club was founded in 1948 and currently play in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth level of French football having earn promotion to the league following the...
, Monts d'Or Azergues
Monts d'Or Azergues Foot
Monts d'Or Azergues Foot is a French association football club founded in 2000. They are based in the town of Chasselay, Rhône and their home stadium is the Stade Ludovic Giuly, named after France international Ludovic Giuly, who played for the club as a youngster. As of the 2009–10 season,...
, the reserves of Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
, Béziers
AS Béziers (2007)
Avenir Sportif Béziers is a French association football club founded in 2007. They are based in the town of Béziers and their home stadium is the Stade de Sauclières. As of the 2009–10 season, they play in the Championnat de France amateur 2 Group F....
, Le Poiré-sur-Vie
SJA Le Poiré-sur-Vie
Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc Le Poiré-sur-vie is a French football club based in Le Poiré-sur-Vie . -History:The club, founded in 1954, is currently playing in the Championnat National, the third tier in the French football league system....
, and the reserves of Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
, respectively. All seven clubs, alongside the champions and the four-best runner-up clubs, earned promotion to the Championnat de France amateur.
History and format
The amateur championship of France was created in 1993 under the name National 3. The league's debut coincided with the creation of the Championnat NationalChampionnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
, the third division of French football, which is commonly known as National. For the first three years of the competition, an amateur champion was crowned in France regardless of whether the club was amateur or a reserve team.
There are 128 clubs that participate in the Championnat de France amateur 2 annually. The clubs are split into eight parallel groups of 16 with their group affiliation being based on the regional location
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
of the club. The league is open to reserve teams in France and amateur clubs in France and both are eligible for promotion to the Championnat de France amateur. During the course of a season, usually from August to May, each club plays the others in their respective group twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Since the league is considered amateur, teams receive four points for a win and two points for a draw. One point is awarded for a loss. A club gets no points from a game for certain disciplinary reasons or if they forfeit. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
, and then goals scored.
At the end of each season, the club with the most points, regardless of the group, is crowned champion and promoted to the Championnat de France amateur. If points are equal, head-to-head match results, followed by the goal difference, and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship or for relegation, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The seven other highest-placed amateur teams in the other groups are also promoted, while the three lowest-placed teams from each group are relegated to the Division d'Honneur. Alongside the winners of the groups, the top four second-place finishers, regardless of group, are also promoted to the fourth division.