Inside 102-year-old stadium unfit for Europe despite club’s incredible charge into Champions League spot

STRADE BRESTOIS are writing history this season under manager Eric Roy as the club has never finished above eighth in the league.

But the Ligue 1 underdogs are currently in second position and on course to qualify for the Champions League – but their stadium will be unfit to hold any games if they do so.

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Strade Brestois’s 102-year-old stadium is unfit to hold Champions League games[/caption]

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Brest are currently second in Ligue 1 and are in line to compete in Europe next year[/caption]

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Stadium Francis-Le Ble would need to undergo extensive work to hold European games next season[/caption]

While Brest are in the midst of a historic term the club are aware their ground Francis-Le Ble would need to undergo work before being able to host matches in the Champions League. 

The 102-year-old stadium which is located in the Western tip of France holds 15,931 spectators.

This is less than Brentford’s Community Stadium which holds 17,00 spectators but is still bigger than Bournemouth’s and Luton’s grounds.

But according to Le Telegramme, UEFA regulations have four categories of stadiums, and only category 4 can host Champions League games.

Currently, Francis-Le Ble is a category 2 which means it would only be allowed to host games in the 1st and 2nd qualifying rounds for the Champions League or games in the Europa Conference League. 

Category 2 highlights the stadium lacks media facilities and does not have the correct floodlights to host European clashes.

Meaning for the Brest they will need to find a temporary host for when they play in the Champions League.

Brest are one of the biggest surprises this season after rising from mid-table to now possibly competing with the European elites.

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Before their match against Strasbourg on Saturday, Brest sat in second place in Ligue 1. 

Following a record-breaking performance, Roy’s side has shown they are strong contenders for an automatic Champions League qualification spot.

Brest ended up thrashing Strasbourg 3-0 to hold their second spot in the table and on 43 points in Ligue 1 after 23 matches played with only Paris Saint-Germain ahead of them.

Brest have equalled their record unbeaten run in Ligue 1 – a record which has stood since 1990.

Last season the club were battling it out in the bottom half of the table and luckily managed to avoid relegation after finishing 14th.