On the French Federation (FFF) website, there is still no stadium allocated for the 8th round of the Coupe de France between Neuilly-sur-Marne (N3) and Valenciennes (National) scheduled for Saturday November 30 at 1:30 p.m. . The reception of Valenciennes, a historic French football club, should have been a celebration for Neuilly-sur-Marne SFC which will compete in the 8th round of the Coupe de France for the first time in its history. But it risks being spoiled. Last Tuesday, the 93 club, which has climbed the ranks in recent years to reach National 3, received a letter from the FFF informing it that the Georges Foulon stadium, 1,460 seats including 480 in the stands, was not counterpart.
“I regret the form, no one came to see our land,” underlines President Frédéric Mallefond. It was a historic match for our club which we came back from very low 7 years ago. For me, that’s not the spirit of the Coupe de France.” Eager to “go all the way”, Neuilly-sur-Marne appealed the FFF’s decision.
President Frédéric Mallefond is summoned this Monday, November 25 at 2:30 p.m. by the appeal commission to present his arguments. But the FFF certainly relies on an incident that occurred on August 24 during the first day of the championship. The Georges Foulon stadium was suspended for 4 matches (two of which were suspended) for throwing a bottle. “We have already paid, we cannot be sanctioned twice,” pleads the president.
If the FFF maintains its decision not to approve its stadium for this 8th round of the Coupe de France, two options are available to Neuilly-sur-Marne. The first is to find a place to fall back on in the Paris region. But five days before the match, it seems complicated to put in place. The second is to reverse the match and move to the Hainaut stadium in Valenciennes. The Valencian leaders have already contacted their counterparts in this regard, offering to pay their travel expenses. But President Frédéric Mallefond “does not consider at all” going to play in Valenciennes.
