Dozens of million" euros in damages after they were deprived of a spot in a European competition.

Club president Jean-Michel Aulas said. “Olympique Lyonnais will seek "dozens of million" euros in damages after they were deprived of a spot in a European competition for the first time in a quarter of a century following the French League's decision to end the Ligue 1 season amid the COVID-19 crisis”.

With some teams having played 27 matches and others 28, the French League (LFP) drew up the final standings according to a performance index - number of points per game weighed by head-to-head record, resulting in Lyon finishing seventh with no chance of a European spot for 2020-2021.

Aulas argued the season could have been finished in the form of playoffs behind closed doors in August and that the ranking method was disputable.

Lyon were seventh after 28 games on 40 points 10 behind third-placed Stade Rennais, who occupy the last European Champions League qualifying spot.

‘It is an injustice’ Amiens president Bernard Joannin said in a facebook live broadcast.

French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu said aggrieved clubs were welcome to explore legal options but also called for restraint.

"I appeal to everyone's solidarity and responsibility. I appeal to the wealthy and better off that they don't split hairs ... We must also think of others and society. The world must know how to take its losses."

The new season will start on Aug. 22-23 at the latest and is likely to be held without fans as mass gatherings are banned in France until September.