‘A dying stadium’ – Two clubs could hosts Brest’s Champions League games | OneFootball

If Stade Brestois qualify for the Champions League then they will be unable to use their stadium the Stade Francis-le Blé in its current capacity.

According to L’Équipe, the 102-year-old stadium would need major renovation to meet UEFA’s requirements, as it already has exemptions from the LFP to allow it to play in Ligue 1.

As far as capacity goes, the stadium is fine, but it would need work on parking spaces, VIP and media areas, increased space for the television broadcasts, as well as lighting and turnstiles at the entrance. However, as has been reported by Le Télégramme these fixes by in large are solvable for Brest, it is the structure of the stadium that may prove more challenging.

Three of the four stands in the stadium rest on tubulars, which are prohibited by UEFA. Although UEFA can grant special requests, as they lay out in their regulations, “may grant an exception to a specific structural criterion for the stadium.”

The situation will become clearer when UEFA send their technicians to inspect the site during March or early April. Until then, Brest will be left to wonder if they will have to consider moving their European games. And the club have not yet contacted the city about any possible work.

‘This is one of the hazards of high-level sport’ for Brest

The Mayor of Brest, François Cuillandre, speaking to L’Équipe analysed the situation, “The questions about Francis-le Blé show… the need to build a new stadium.” He continued, “The reality of what we are experiencing today shows that if we don’t do it, we will always be in trouble. The current stadium, which belongs to the city, has benefited from exemptions for more than ten years, and these are somewhat the same questions that will arise if we are in a European cup.”

He further cast doubts on the city funding any changes ahead of the start of the next season, “We have no plans to redo the stands between now and August… It’s not possible, and financially unimaginable. It’s a stadium which, in my eyes, is at the end of its life, we are not going to carry out extremely important work because we have to play in the Champions League.”

Cuillandre finished, “We will do our utmost within reason, to ensure that matches take place at Le Blé.” However, if they cannot then “We will go to Rennes or Nantes… This is one of the hazards of high-level sport.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland