Albi off to Pro D2
Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:37
France's Olympique committee confirmed the earlier find of the Ligue National du Rugby and told Albi , who finished above the relegation zone, that they are to be relegated from Top 14 to Pro D2.
The financial boffins of the Ligue had given this judgement on 19 May. Naturally Albi were upset and organised a march through the city for their last home match. The mayor and the club's president led the march and the town council made €250 000 available to enable Albi to balance its books. They appealed to the French Rugby Federation who turned their appeal down on 10 June. Then they went to the Olympic Committee for arbitration.
They finished 12th but were relegated because of their parlous financial state, thus allowing Dax to remain in Top 14 though they ended 13th.
On Monday the Comité National Olympique Sportif Français (CNOSF) confirmed the Ligue's findings though there is till a further body that Albi can appeal to - the Conseil d'Etat et le Tribunal administratif , the Council of State and the Administrative Court.
