# 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur

The 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur was the 19th season of the fourth tier in the French football league system in its current format. The competition was contested by 64 clubs split geographically across 4 groups of 16 teams each. The teams included amateur clubs (although a few are semi-professional) and the reserve teams of professional clubs.

## Teams

On July 15, the FFF ratified the constitution of the competition, and published the groups as follows:
* 47 clubs who were neither relegated or promoted from the 2015–16 Championnat de France amateur groups.
* 1 team administratively relegated from 2015–16 Ligue 2 (Évian TG)
* 1 team relegated from 2015–16 Championnat National (Fréjus Saint-Raphaël).
* 12 teams promoted from 2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur 2. (Rennes reserves, Chartres, ES Paulhan-Pézenas, Andrézieux, Reims reserves, Lille reserves, Le Havre, Annecy, Saint-Maur, Montpellier reserves, Raon-l'Étape and Granville).
* 2 teams reprieved from relegation from 2015–16 Championnat de France Amateur (Rodez and Vitré)
* Sporting Club Toulon, formed from a merger of Toulon-Le Las and Toulon, and taking the former's place in the league.
On 9 August, the FFF confirmed the decision by Évian TG not to participate in the CFA following the club's recent receivership. Because the decision comes after 15 July, there will be no replacement and Group C will instead operate with 15 clubs.

## League tables

Group A :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Rennes (res) (C) | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 56 | |
| 2 | Cholet (P) | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 46 | 32 | +14 | 51 | Promotion to National |
| 3 | Bergerac | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 35 | 34 | +1 | 48 | |
| 4 | Granville | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 47 | |
| 5 | Trélissac | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 44 | 31 | +13 | 46 | |
| 6 | Vitré | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 36 | 34 | +2 | 45 | |
| 7 | Romorantin | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 35 | 31 | +4 | 44 | |
| 8 | Fontenay | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 42 | |
| 9 | Saint-Malo | 30 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 42 | |
| 10 | Paris Saint-Germain (res) | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 44 | 36 | +8 | 42 | |
| 11 | Lorient (res) | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 39 | |
| 12 | Chartres | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 33 | |
| 13 | Mantes | 30 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 41 | −18 | 29 | |
| 14 | Plabennec (R) | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 30 | 37 | −7 | 29 | Relegation to National 3 |
| 15 | Nantes (res) (R) | 30 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 28 | Relegation to National 3 |
| 16 | Châteaubriant (R) | 30 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 26 | 48 | −22 | 26 | Relegation to National 3 |
* ↑ Cholet were penalised by the FFF for a technical infringement on submission of the teamsheet in the Round 2 game away at Châteaubriant on 20 August 2016. The original scoreline was 1–2 in favour of Cholet. The match was awarded to Châteaubriant 3–0 and Cholet were deducted a point. Cholet appealed, but currently the decision stands.
* ↑ Bergerac were penalised by the FFF for fielding two suspended players in the Round 22 game away at Cholet on 11 March 2017. The original scoreline was 0–0. The match was awarded to Cholet 3–0 and Bergerac were deducted a point.
Group B :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Entente SSG (C, P) | 30 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 52 | 20 | +32 | 58 | Promotion to National |
| 2 | Fleury | 30 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 36 | 22 | +14 | 57 | |
| 3 | Saint-Maur | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 36 | 20 | +16 | 54 | |
| 4 | Boulogne-Billancourt | 30 | 15 | 4 | 11 | 48 | 42 | +6 | 49 | |
| 5 | Arras FA | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 46 | |
| 6 | Lens (res) | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 36 | 37 | −1 | 44 | |
| 7 | Drancy | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 28 | 22 | +6 | 39 | |
| 8 | Lille (res) | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 36 | 38 | −2 | 38 | |
| 9 | Croix | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 34 | 36 | −2 | 37 | |
| 10 | Le Havre (res) | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 36 | 43 | −7 | 36 | |
| 11 | Viry-Châtillon | 30 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 37 | 40 | −3 | 34 | |
| 12 | AC Amiens | 30 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 33 | |
| 13 | Poissy | 30 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 37 | 44 | −7 | 32 | |
| 14 | Wasquehal (R) | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 23 | 36 | −13 | 29 | Relegation to National 3 |
| 15 | Dieppe (R) | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 21 | 47 | −26 | 28 | Relegation to National 3 |
| 16 | Calais RUFC (R) | 30 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 41 | 57 | −16 | 26 | Relegation to National 3 |
* ↑ On 10 September 2016, the game between Croix and Calais RUFC was abandoned by the referee after the assistant referee was squirted with a water bottle. On 18 November 2016, the DCNG penalised Croix by deducting a point and awarded the game to Calais RUFC by the score 3–0.
* ↑ Viry-Châtillon were deducted two points by the DNCG on 13 December 2016.
* ↑ On 17 January 2017 Calais RUFC were deducted 6 points by the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) for breach of financial rules. The club appealed, but the ban was upheld. Calais were deducted a further point by the FFF on 8 March 2017 for not having an appropriately qualified coach.
Group C :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Grenoble (C, P) | 28 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 47 | 15 | +32 | 66 | Promotion to National |
| 2 | Le Puy | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 40 | 15 | +25 | 57 | |
| 3 | Annecy | 28 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 50 | 32 | +18 | 50 | |
| 4 | Lyon (res) | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 54 | 44 | +10 | 46 | |
| 5 | Jura Sud | 28 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 44 | 38 | +6 | 44 | |
| 6 | Villefranche | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 40 | |
| 7 | Reims (res) | 28 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 43 | 41 | +2 | 36 | |
| 8 | Andrézieux | 28 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 37 | 44 | −7 | 33 | |
| 9 | Raon-l'Étape | 28 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 37 | 49 | −12 | 32 | |
| 10 | Chasselay MDA | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 29 | 37 | −8 | 31 | |
| 11 | Yzeure | 28 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 28 | 38 | −10 | 29 | |
| 12 | St-Louis Neuweg | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 44 | −14 | 28 | |
| 13 | Montceau | 28 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 | 48 | −13 | 28 | |
| 14 | Auxerre (res) (R) | 28 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 35 | 51 | −16 | 25 | Relegation to National 3 |
| 15 | Mulhouse (R) | 28 | 7 | 5 | 16 | 30 | 43 | −13 | 22 | Relegation to National 3 |
* ↑ On 3 January 2017 St-Louis Neuweg were deducted 3 points by the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) for breach of financial rules. The club appealed, but the ban was upheld.
* ↑ On 17 January 2017 Mulhouse were deducted 4 points by the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) for breach of financial rules. The club appealed, but the ban was upheld.
Group D :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Rodez (C, P) | 30 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 43 | 27 | +16 | 61 | Promotion to National |
| 2 | Mont de Marsan | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 46 | 28 | +18 | 51 | |
| 3 | Fréjus Saint-Raphaël | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 46 | 31 | +15 | 51 | |
| 4 | Toulon | 30 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 42 | 33 | +9 | 44 | |
| 5 | Colomiers | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 35 | 37 | −2 | 43 | |
| 6 | Hyères | 30 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 43 | |
| 7 | Monaco (res) | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 54 | 48 | +6 | 42 | |
| 8 | Marignane-Gignac | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 47 | 45 | +2 | 40 | |
| 9 | Tarbes | 30 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 39 | |
| 10 | Marseille (res) | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 30 | 32 | −2 | 38 | |
| 11 | Martigues | 30 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 38 | |
| 12 | Nice (res) | 30 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 37 | 50 | −13 | 35 | |
| 13 | Sète | 30 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 26 | 28 | −2 | 35 | |
| 14 | Paulhan-Pézenas | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 34 | 45 | −11 | 33 | |
| 15 | Montpellier (res) (R) | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 26 | 45 | −19 | 31 | Relegation to National 3 |
| 16 | Le Pontet (R) | 30 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 45 | −20 | 24 | Relegation to National 3 |

## Season outcomes

Outcomes below are provisional and subject to ratification by the FFF.

### Champions and promotions

Cholet, Entente SSG, Grenoble and Rodez are promoted to National. Although Rennes (res) finished at the top of Group A, reserve sides are not eligibile for promotion.
Grenoble are Champions of 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur, due to having the best record of the four group winning sides against the teams finishing in 2nd to 6th in their respective groups.

### Relegation

Plabennec, Nantes (res), Châteaubriant, Wasquehal, Dieppe, Calais RUFC, Auxerre (res), Mulhouse, Paulhan-Pézenas, Le Pontet and Montpellier (res) are provisionally relegated to National 3, subject to reprieves.
Calais RUFC were subsequently given an administrative relegation by the FFF, and as a consequence will play in the top level of regional football in 2017–18.

### Reprieves

On 30 May the FFF announced that Furiani-Agliani were to be denied promotion from 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur 2. This decision was overturned on appeal.
On 7 June the FFF announced that AS Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône were to be denied promotion from 2016–17 Championnat de France Amateur 2, and as a result Paulhan-Pézenas would be reprieved. This decision was ratified on appeal.
If any other administrative events lead to teams from outside the relegation places being relegated, already relegated teams will be reprieved in the following order:

#### Best 14th placed teams

Based on record against the teams finishing in 9th to 13th place in their respective groups.
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | GD | |
| 1 | Paulhan-Pézenas | 10 | 14 | 1 | Reprieved |
| 2 | Plabennec | 10 | 10 | -2 | |
| 3 | Wasquehal | 10 | 9 | -5 | |
| 4 | Auxerre (res) | 10 | 7 | -6 | Ineligible |

#### Best 15th placed teams

Based on record against the teams finishing in 10th to 14th place in their respective groups.
| Pos | Team | Pld | Pts | GD | |
| 1 | Mulhouse | 10 | 14 | 4 | Ineligible |
| 2 | Dieppe | 10 | 13 | -6 | |
| 3 | Montpellier (res) | 10 | 8 | -7 | |
| 4 | Nantes (res) | 10 | 7 | -3 | |

## Top scorers

    As of end of season
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Patrick Etshini Kindenge | L'Entente SSG | 20 |
| 2 | Edwin Maanane | Grenoble | 19 |
| 3 | Sébastien Bernard | Arras FA | 16 |
| 4 | Alan Dzabana | Lyon (res) | 15 |
| 4 | Mohamed Chalali | Boulogne-Billancourt | 15 |
| 4 | Yannis Dogo | Granville | 15 |
| 7 | Sébastien Persico | Romorantin | 14 |
| 7 | Anthony Petrilli | Trélissac | 14 |
| 7 | Fahd El Khoumisti | Fontenay | 14 |
| 7 | Irvin Cardona | Monaco (res) | 14 |