Championnat National (France)

Championnat National (France) (National) - the third tier of the French league system organised under the French Football Federation (FFF). Regulations: the competition is played by 18 clubs in a double round-robin format with home and away matches, with 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. If teams are level on points, positions are decided by head-to-head points, then head-to-head goal difference, then overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then the lower Carton Bleu penalty total, and if still level by drawing lots. At the end of the season, the top two clubs earn the right to be promoted to Ligue 2 subject to admission requirements and regulatory decisions, the 3rd-placed club plays a two-legged play-off against the 16th-placed Ligue 2 club for a place in Ligue 2, and the bottom three clubs are relegated to National 2. The play-off is decided on aggregate goals over two legs with the second leg hosted by the Ligue 2 club, and if level after the second leg extra time is played followed by penalties if required.