Marseille win relegation appeal

Marseille's appeal to French football authorities against their shock relegation to the second division has been successful, …

Marseille's appeal to French football authorities against their shock relegation to the second division has been successful, the club said today.

In a statement on the club's website, the club said it had been told by the French Football League's Finance Directorate (DNCG) it would be able to remain in the first division next season.

Marseille were kicked out of the French top flight earlier this month after the DNCG ruled the club had insufficient funds to stay in the first division.

The club, which is reported to be 240 million francs (£28 million) in debt, appealed the decision and submitted a detailed financial dossier to the DNCG that they said showed Marseille would be able to hold their own.

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On Wednesday Marseille president Robert Luis-Dreyfus, who has invested 730 million francs in Marseille since he arrived in 1996, said Marseille will be in credit come June 30th.

"OM has come up with all the necessary financial guarantees requested by the DNCG, and the club has responded to the letter to every one of the DNCG's questions," Luis-Dreyfus said after the two-and-a-half-hour meeting.

He said holding company Eric Soccer had underwritten Marseille's guarantees.

AFP