Lens returns to French Ligue 1

Lens football club were promoted to the top flight, French Ligue 1, after successfully appealing a ban on financial grounds.

Lens were banned from the Ligue 1 after failing to produce the prerequisite 10 million euro (about $13.9 million) guarantee, reports Xinhua.

The club appealed to the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF) and were finally given the permission to return.

Lens, who return to Ligue 1 after an absence of three seasons, are owned by Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov, who also owns FC Baku and English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.