The French investor club Le Mans FC has secured its promotion to Ligue 1 off the pitch. The league’s disciplinary committee decided to uphold Le Mans’ 2-0 victory against Bastia from last Saturday. This match had been abandoned after flares were thrown onto the field.
With the three points from this game, Le Mans secured second place in Ligue 2, behind champions ES Troyes AC. Former record champions AS Saint-Étienne will now face relegation to defend their spot in Ligue 2.
The promotion marks a significant achievement for the club, which has faced a challenging period since its relegation from the top league in 2010. Le Mans had dropped to the amateur ranks and had to be re-established due to financial issues. From 2020 to 2025, the team played in the third division.
The promotion is also seen as a success for the investors involved in the club. Novak Djokovic became a co-owner in August 2025 when a Brazilian consortium, including former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen, joined. In February 2026, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Real Madrid also acquired shares in the club.
