Paris FC

In an effort to re-launch professional football in the city of Paris, Paris Football Club was founded on 1 August 1969. The objective of the club was to be playing in the first division by 1970. An attempted merger with CS Sedan Ardennes was refused so Paris went looking in the second division and, subsequently, merged with Stade Saint-Germain to form Paris Saint-Germain, the professional club that plays in Ligue 1. The current incarnation of Paris FC came into being in 1972 when the club split from Paris Saint-Germain after coming under pressure from the capital city's mayor, who refused to support a non-Parisian club (the club had originally been situated in nearby Saint-Germain-en-Laye). As a result, a bitter split occurred and both Paris FC and Paris Saint-Germain remained as separate football club with the main agreement being that Paris FC had the right to keep the splitting entity's first division and professional status, as well as all the professional players. Paris Saint-Germain were, on the other hand, administratively relegated to the third division and given all the former entity's amateur players.

At the beginning of the 1972–73 season, Paris were playing in the first division hosting matches at the Parc des Princes. Two seasons later, the club was relegated to the second division, which coincided with Paris Saint-Germain's rise to top-flight and the acquisition of the Parc des Princes. After four years of playing in Division 2, Paris returned to the first division for the 1978–79 season. However, the season was a difficult one and resulted in the club falling back to Division 2 after one season. Paris FC have since yet to return to the top-flight league of France.

In 1983, Paris FC, then led by the industrialist Jean-Luc Lagardère, merged with Racing Club de France. While Racing remained in the first division, the remaining entity that was PFC was administratively relegated to the fourth division. Due to having limited resources, Paris fell to the Division d'Honneur after one season and, subsequently, spent four seasons in the fifth division before returning to Division 4 in 1988. Another promotion the following season saw Paris earn a place in Division 3. Paris remained in the division for 12 years becoming inaugural members of the Championnat National in the process. In 2000, the club finished 17th and were relegated to the Championnat de France amateur. Paris spent six years in the league before returning to National for the 2006–07 season. After a successful 2014–15 campaign, the club gained promotion to Ligue 2, the French second division, alongside its local rival Red Star F.C. However, it would stay in Ligue 2 for only one year and was relegated back to the Championnat National for the 2016–17 season.

In the 2016–17 season, Paris FC made the playoff/relegation final against US Orleans but lost over the two legged game on aggregate. Paris FC were then administratively promoted to Ligue 2 after SC Bastia were demoted to the third division for financial irregularities.[1] For the 2017/2018 Ligue 2 season, Paris FC finished 8th on the table but at one stage occupied the promotion places.[2]

In the 2018–19 season, Paris finished 4th and contested the plays-offs against RC Lens, but lost the penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw.[3]

Since July 2020, a new strategic economic partner has joined Paris FC to support the club's development and ambitions: the Kingdom of Bahrain. The deal was completed with a capital increase to improve finances of the club, giving the kingdom 20 percent of the equity. Pierre Ferracci remains the main shareholder with a contribution of 77 percent. In addition to this investment, the Kingdom of Bahrain becomes the main sponsor of the club.

The Council of Paris was to vote on renewing the yearly subvention the City of Paris allocates to the Paris Club, several non-profit organizations based in Paris, including ADHRB called for the City of Paris to hold a dialogue on the abuse of human rights and death penalty practiced in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a 20% share holder of the club. The Council of Paris accused the kingdom of distracting general public from its abuses via a popular sport like soccer, committing a practice called ‘Sport-Whitewashing’ or ‘Sportwashing’. The Council also demanded the release of detainees put on death row by Bahrain on the basis of confessions acquired via torture methods. As one of the oldest partners of the Paris FC club, Mairie de Paris was called for pursuing its commitment towards the defense of human rights.[4] [5]

The club used to be the biggest and most well supported in the city, with over 20,000 supporter members at the time of the club's formation.[6]

In 1970 the club merged with Stade Saint-Germain to form Paris Saint-Germain F.C., but quickly left the merger. In the 1973 season, the first after leaving, the club still averaged an attendance of 13,202.[7] However, after that, the two clubs' fortunes varied drastically, and as PSG's popularity rose, PFC fell into obscurity and languished in the amateur divisions. It is only when it reached the third tier its popularity started growing again, however the club currently only attracts in the region of a few hundred to very low thousands fans for each match.[8]

In 2000s the club used to have a supporter group called Blue Wolves founded in 2008. Officially apolitical, they tended to have right-wing views. However they were disbanded in 2010 after several hooligan incidents occurred, the last of which during a match against FC Gueugnon.[9][10][11]

They were replaced by the group Old Clan, founded in 2010, and ultras group Ultras Lutetia founded in the summer of 2014. After the expulsion of PSG fans from Parc des Princes in 2010,[12] PFC has attracted some of that support, particularly from the left-wing group Virage Auteuil,[13] but also a few from right-wing group Boulogne Boys.

The fans have a friendship with fans of SR Colmar, in the past also fans of Stade Reims.

The club has rivalries with fellow neighbours US Créteil and Red Star F.C.[14] with whom they contest the Parisian derbies.[15] Although both clubs are officially apolitical, due to Red Star fans left-wing political tendencies and PFC's past right-wing political tendencies, the derby is particularly fierce. The derby with US Créteil is a geographical one as both clubs play in the southern suburbs of Paris.

As of 10 February 2021[16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  FRA Vincent Demarconnay (captain) 2 DF  TUN Ali Abdi 3 DF  FRA Jaouen Hadjam 4 MF  FRA Ousmane Camara 5 MF  SEN Moustapha Name 6 MF  FRA Saïd Arab 7 FW  FRA Gaëtan Laura 8 MF  FRA Mario-Jason Kikonda 9 FW  FRA Lamine Diaby-Fadiga 11 MF  FRA Florian Martin 12 MF  MAD Lalaïna Nomenjanahary 13 DF  FRA Gaëtan Belaud 14 MF  MTQ Cyril Mandouki 15 DF  CIV Axel Bamba

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 DF  FRA Hugo Gambor 18 DF  SEN Youssoupha N'Diaye 19 DF  GUI Ousmane Kanté 20 MF  ALG Julien López 21 MF  FRA Morgan Guilavogui 22 FW  FRA Warren Caddy 23 MF  FRA Marvin Gakpa 24 FW  USA Patrick Koffi 25 FW  FRA Andy Pembélé 27 DF  FRA Thibault Campanini 28 MF  FRA Diakité 29 DF  FRA Florent Hanin 31 MF  FRA Samir Chergui

Reserve squad

As of 8 January 2020[17]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  FRA Macéo Sow — GK  FRA Obed Nkambadio — DF  TUN Amine Cherni — DF  FRA Marvyn Vialaneix — DF  FRA Idriss Nabli — DF  FRA Bilal Camara — MF  FRA Mamadou Sow — MF  FRA Yann Richard — MF  FRA Samir Chergui — MF  FRA Thomas Némouthé

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  FRA Terry Makedika — MF  FRA Noé Masevo — MF  FRA Damien Beaufrere — MF  FRA Luca Spurio — MF  FRA Ousmane Camara — MF  FRA Check Oumar Diakité — FW  FRA Jessim Jallot — FW  FRA Arnaud Tattevin — FW  FRA Meshak Babanzila — FW  FRA Jean-Claude Ngando

• Championnat National
  • Runners-up: 2014–15
• Division 3
  • Winners: 1973–74 (West group)[lower-alpha 1]
• Championnat National 2
  • Winners: 2005–06 (Group D)
• Division 4
  • Runners-up: 1988–89
• Division d'Honneur (Paris)
  • Champions: 1987–88, 2009–10[lower-alpha 2]