Paris, May 1:

Paris Saint Germain will not be allowed to defend their title in next year’s French League Cup after a controversial banner was displayed during last month’s final, the Professional Football League (LFP) ruled on Wednesday.

But the president of the LFP disciplinary commission Jacques Riolacci said the club would not be deducted points because the racist connotation had not been established. “The disciplinary commission didn’t find that the banner, despite shocking a lot of people, was strictly racist,” said Riolacci.

A points deduction would have been disastrous for the club who are currently mired in a desperate battle against relegation from the first division. However, later the 1996 Cup Winners Cup champions said they would appeal the decision.