Paris Saint-Germain have been declared Ligue 1 champions after it was announced on Wednesday that the league would not resume because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) made the decision following France’s decision to ban all sporting events until September.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were 12 points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand, when French football was suspended indefinitely on 13 March.
PSG have been awarded the title – their ninth in total and third in a row – on a points-per-game basis, while Lorient were crowned Ligue 2 champions on the same principle.
They were just one point above Lens when the season was suspended and both teams will be promoted.
Amiens and Toulouse will be relegated from Ligue 1. Nimes who occupied 17th place will remain in the topflight for next season as no relegation/promotions playoffs will take place.
PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi dedicated the title to health workers who have been at the fore front of the battle against the pandemic in France.
“We understand, respect and support the decisions taken by the French Government to end the championship. Health, as the government has always said, must be everyone’s priority,” he said.
“In these difficult times, I hope that this trophy will bring a little happiness and hope to all our supporters, and I am grateful to them for their unwavering support which helps drive Paris St-Germain forward.”
Meanwhile, the chief executive of the French League (LFP) Didier Quillot said he expects certain clubs will challenge the league’s decisions but expressed confidence that the resolutions will withstand any appeals.
“There might be appeals but our decisions are solid,” Quillot said.
Quillot added the LFP had until 25 May to tell Uefa which clubs will be qualified for European competitions.
That is the same day by which European leagues have to tell European football’s governing body whether they want to complete or cancel their seasons.
The Dutch top flight was abandoned on Friday with no promotion or relegation and no champions, while on Monday Belgian clubs postponed a vote on confirming the cancellation of their top flight until next week.
The German Bundesliga has been forced to move the expected date of resumption by a week after government postponed a decision on greenlighting the proposed 9 May restart date.
