"Paris Saint-Germain, the powerhouse of women's football in France, has been dealt a bitter blow by the French Football Federation (FFF) after being docked nine points from their league tally. The move not only undermines the team's chances of qualifying for the Champions League playoffs but also raises questions about the governing body's handling of administrative issues.
The controversy centers around Canadian player Florianne Jourde, who joined PSG in 2024. According to the FFF, three of PSG's wins this season have been overturned due to a licensing issue involving Jourde, a member of the Canadian national team. The problem lies with an apparent loophole in the registration process, where Jourde had previously played for a university team in Canada that was considered "organised" by FIFA for registration purposes.
The FFF claims that PSG failed to inform them about Jourde's previous affiliation, which led to the three victories being forfeited. However, PSG maintains that they requested an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the US Soccer federation, where Jourde was playing at the time, but were told she did not need it due to the university league not being considered professional.
PSG's response has been met with skepticism, as many believe the governing body has unfairly targeted the team. The move comes at a critical juncture in PSG's season, with the club currently 16 points behind leaders OL Lyonnes and heavily penalized on the sporting field. The situation has sparked debate within the league, with some clubs favoring PSG despite their defeats.
The FFF's decision raises concerns about transparency and consistency in the application of regulations. As PSG vows to appeal the decision, the outcome could have significant implications for the team's prospects and the future of women's football in France.
The controversy centers around Canadian player Florianne Jourde, who joined PSG in 2024. According to the FFF, three of PSG's wins this season have been overturned due to a licensing issue involving Jourde, a member of the Canadian national team. The problem lies with an apparent loophole in the registration process, where Jourde had previously played for a university team in Canada that was considered "organised" by FIFA for registration purposes.
The FFF claims that PSG failed to inform them about Jourde's previous affiliation, which led to the three victories being forfeited. However, PSG maintains that they requested an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) from the US Soccer federation, where Jourde was playing at the time, but were told she did not need it due to the university league not being considered professional.
PSG's response has been met with skepticism, as many believe the governing body has unfairly targeted the team. The move comes at a critical juncture in PSG's season, with the club currently 16 points behind leaders OL Lyonnes and heavily penalized on the sporting field. The situation has sparked debate within the league, with some clubs favoring PSG despite their defeats.
The FFF's decision raises concerns about transparency and consistency in the application of regulations. As PSG vows to appeal the decision, the outcome could have significant implications for the team's prospects and the future of women's football in France.
I'm low-key shocked by this whole thing... it seems like the FFF is just trying to be nitpicky here. 9 points might seem like a lot, but it's not the end of the world for PSG. They've got some talented players and they can still make a push for that Champions League spot. The loophole in the registration process is pretty obvious - who wouldn't have wanted to get an ITC? And PSg did request one, too! 
PSG might be down, but they're not out yet - they've still got a few games left and some serious momentum to build on. The FFF should be focusing on supporting the teams rather than picking apart tiny details. 
. I mean, if they're gonna crack down hard on one player, what about all the other players who've made similar mistakes or had issues with their transfers? It just seems like an unfair target. And can we talk about how this is gonna affect the season? 16 points behind Lyon and now losing a ton of points? 
That's a huge hill to climb. I'm not saying PSG didn't mess up, but come on FFF, be consistent! 
. Either way, if the FFF is doing their job and enforcing the rules, then that's all that matters. PSJ (Paris Saint-Germain) needs to step up their game and stop complaining about it 
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. I mean, I guess it makes sense that there was a licensing issue with Florianne Jourde's registration, but nine points? That's just brutal 
. It's like the FFF is tryin' to sabotage their chances of makin' the Champions League playoffs for fun 
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. If they were really that clueless, wouldn't they've checked with FIFA first? I mean, it's not like it's a new rule or somethin' 
.
. I'm all for fairness, but this feels like a total farce 
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idk wat the us soccer federation would say if they were in psrg's shoes... maybe dey shoulda just gotten an ict or somethin. 
The fact that PSG is being singled out and not all teams are held to the same standards is just frustrating. And what about Florianne Jourde? She's a talented player who deserves a fair chance to compete... this whole thing just feels like a mess! 
that's a big deal! 
I feel for Florianne Jourde, she didn't do anything wrong 
and it's not fair 
? The whole situation is so frustrating 
. This is a huge scandal 
and I hope PSG wins their appeal 
️. I hope PSG's appeal doesn't get brushed off, or this whole thing is gonna be a total farce 
PSG is one of the top teams in women's football right now, and now they're getting hit with a huge 9-point deduction? 
The FFF needs to be more transparent about their rules and regulations. 
We need to stand together and fight for fair play in women's football! 
. The whole thing just seems fishy to me... I mean, who gets docked points for a tiny loophole in their registration process? 
. Can't we just have a more level playing field here? 
FFF should focus on refereeing mistakes not administrative issues 
It's like, can't we just let teams have a little bit of breathing room instead of always penalizing them for something that seems like it was outside of their control? 