French League Cup Suspended From 2020

The French Football League (LFP) has announced the suspension of the League Cup edition otherwise known as Coupe de la Ligue from next season. 

The League's need to cut down on domestic fixtures is to allow for the UEFA's plans to increase the number of teams participating in the Champions League game to 48, in a proposed reform that will be effective in the competition from 2024. 

"After meeting on September 18, the administrative council and then the general assembly of the LFP decided to suspend the organisation of the Coupe de la Ligue after 2019-20," a statement released by the league reads. 

The proposed suspended of the competition may not be indefinite as the statement as hinted at its restoration in couple of years time. 

In effect, winner of the competition which would gain entry to the Europa League, hence, will be selected from the final result of the league table from 2020-21 according to the LFP statement. 

The need for expansion was announced in June when the European Club Association (ECA) presented a proposal to the continental governing body, UEFA, that there is a growing need for more teams to be included in the competition and suggested that matches played be increased to 14 and number participants increased from 32 to 40-48 teams.

"The model that emerges for the UEFA Club Competitions post-2024 should aim to strengthen the value of the competitions," ECA said in a statement. "while increasing the overall number of participating clubs and a greater certainty of matches for all."