How France’s new Ligue 3 will work, from coach challenges to Ligue 1+ coverage | OneFootball

The French Football Federation announced on Tuesday the launch of Ligue 3 next season, replacing National. Billed as a testing ground for the game, the division will be shown in full on Ligue 1+.

The first matchday is 8 August, with 18 clubs taking part. Federation funding totals 12.3 million euros, of which 70% will go to participating teams.

The top two will be promoted to Ligue 2. Clubs finishing third to sixth will contest promotion play-offs, the winner then facing the 16th in L2, while three teams go down automatically.

Trials will include coach challenges via Football Video Support, with two permitted per match. A proposal to trial temporary dismissals was submitted to the IFAB but was not progressed.

Ligue 1+ will carry one Thursday night feature and eight Saturday matches at 15:00, each with a dedicated channel plus a multiplex. The three-year arrangement includes no rights fee, the platform instead covering production.

Coverage will use five cameras on the headline game and two on other fixtures, an upgrade on National’s output. Agreements with the UNFP and with referees remain to be finalised, with a meeting scheduled on 21 May.

Source: L'Équipe