Any doubt about the feelings of distaste that the French League (LFP) has towards AS Monaco had to be removed after the LFP docked the big spender two points for crowd trouble during a Ligue 2 game against Le Mans last season.
Fireworks were set off during Monaco’s last home game against Le Mans and fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle. During the melee, the referee was struck by a fan, according to the match officials report.
“Regarding the seriousness of the facts, Monaco are condemned to one match behind closed doors and a three-point penalty, including one suspended, for the next Ligue 1 season,” the LFP said in a statement.
Ligue 1 sides are upset that Monaco because of its tax-free situation came afford to pay more for players than anyone else in France.
And the club’s owner, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, has taken advantage of that, splashing more than €120 million to sign Colombian striker Radamel Falcao from Atletico Madrid, and fellow countryman James Rodriguez and Portugal midfield Joao Moutinho from FC Porto.
Monaco are expected to be the main challenges to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain this year, and starting the season two points behind the Parisian side is not going to make the their challenge any easier.