French football is in turmoil. Embroiled in a serious financial and institutional crisis, no effort is being spared to lower the temperature. In order to do so, Philippe Diallo, President of the Federation Française de Football (FFF), convened a general assembly in March, attended by all the actors involved in French professional football.
The objective? To improve the product, define a new form of governance and resolve the many financial problems. All of which resulted in the creation of three separate working groups, which were given a month to present their ideas.
And if some people were still wondering about the extent of the work to be done, the announcement by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) to change its disciplinary policy is a perfect illustration of the distance France has fallen behind the dominant powers in European football.
What was the rule until now?
So far, any player or staff member in Ligue 1 (or Ligue 2) picking up three yellow cards in the space of 10 matches was automatically suspended for the next match. A rule that was notably applied to six top-flight players during the 2024-25 season.
What does the new rule on automatic suspension say?
From the first matchday of the 2025-26 season, the new rule will consist of “an automatic one-match suspension for every five yellow cards”, the LFP said in a statement. This means that the 10-match suspension period previously used by the LFP will not be taken into account.
A “simplified” rule that will apply not only to the first and second divisions, but also to the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions (the equivalent of the Supercup).
How does Ligue 1 compare with the other top 5 leagues in Europe?
While this rule may be seen as a major revolution in France, it is by no means a major turning point on the European continent. For the simple reason that it is already in force in all the other major leagues. Each with its own specific features.
In the Premier League (domestic cups excluded), a player receives a one-match suspension if he is shown five yellow cards in the first 19 matches of the season. If he picks up 10 yellow cards in the first 32 matches, he will suffer two. An accumulation of 15 yellow cards during the season will result in a three-match suspension.
In the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A, a player is suspended after receiving five yellow cards. A further match suspension is then added for each additional five cautions. However, this rule does not apply to domestic cups, which are considered as a separate category.
