Reims lodge appeal against Lyon for fielding Botafogo loanee Thiago Almada in their Ligue 1 matchday squad | OneFootball

Stade de Reims have taken the decision to lodge an appeal against Ligue 1 rivals Lyon for fielding Thiago Almada (23) in their matchday squad, L’Equipe can reveal. Reims are the second Ligue 1 team to do so as Toulouse previously lodged an official appeal for the very same reasons. Reims currently play Lyon this Sunday afternoon at Groupama Stadium. Les Stadistes have lodged an appeal as they considered Almada should not be part of Lyon’s matchday squad considering Les Gones have been handed a transfer ban by the DNCG – Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion, French football’s financial watchdog.

Lyon have been able to sign Almada last month because the 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina has been freely loaned out by Eagle Football-owned Brazilian outfit Botafogo. Almada’s transfer to Lyon has been ratified by LFP – Ligue de Football Professionnel, Ligue 1’s governing body – and greenlit by the DNCG. But Reims consider that Lyon have fraudulently circumvented their transfer ban to bolster their ranks with the Argentina international attacking midfielder.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval