About French National League
The
Championnat de France National serves as the third tier of the French football league system after Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.
Contested by 18 clubs, the Championnat National operates in a promotion and relegation system with Ligue 2 and the Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of French football.
The season runs from August to May, with the teams playing 34 games each for a total of 306 games during the season.
Most matches are played on Fridays and Saturdays, with some on weeknights.
Play is regularly suspended for two weeks during the final weekend before Christmas and resumes in the second week of January.
Created by the French Football Federation in 1993, the National served as the base league for clubs on the verge of turning professional or plummeting to amateur level.
The league is made up of professional and semi-professional clubs each year. League games draw an average of 2,500 to 6,000 spectators per game.
Competition format
Championnat National has 18 clubs. In one season, usually from August to May, each club plays 34 games, once at his home stadium and once at the opponent's stadium.
A win awards 3 points, a draw awards 1. No points are awarded for losses.
Teams are ranked by total points, goal difference and goals scored.
Upon the completion of each season, the club with the most points will be crowned champion and promoted to Ligue 2.
In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by goal difference and points scored.
If still equal, the teams are considered to be in the same position. In the event of a tie for victory or relegation, a play-off at a neutral venue will determine the standings.
The runner-up and his 3rd place finishers were also promoted to his 2nd Division, the bottom 4 teams were relegated to his Championnat National 2 and the winners 4 teams of his 4 groups of Championnat National 2 are promoted in their place.
