| Clerc banned and fined after breaking pre-contract agreement
The French Professional Football League (LFP) juridical committee have banned Olympique Lyonnais defender François Clerc for four matches – three of them on a suspended basis – and fined him €15,000 for the non-respect of article 257 of the French professional football charter.
Clerc signed a pre-contractual agreement in February to join Olympique de Marseille, before extending his contract with Lyon. The LFP subsequently decided to ratify the extension of the contract with Lyon. Marseille requested the application of article 18.3 of the FIFA regulations, which allows a club to approach another sides player six months before the end of his contract. However, the LFP committee ascertained that this article did not apply, as it was not carried over into the LFP regulations. Marseille were fined €5,000. |