Promoted Nice have won their appeal to play in the French first division, oveturning an earlier decision to demote them to the third division on financial grounds.

‘The decision was taken by a strong majority,’ FFF spokesman Jean-Yves Le Huede said after a council meeting.

Nice finished third in the French second division last season and were promoted to the first division, which has been increased from 18 to 20 clubs.

But a ruling in May by the FFF financial committee claimed that did not have sufficient funds to play in the first division. Nice appealed to the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF), who sent the case back to the FFF, who eventually reinstated the club in the top flight due to improved funding in recent weeks.

Nice return to the top division for the first time since the 1996-97 season.