1996–97 French Division 1
The 1996–97 Division 1 season was the 59th since its establishment. AS Monaco won the French Association Football League with 79 points. Four teams were relegated to Second division and only two were promoted because in 1997–1998, only 18 would participate the championship.
Participating teams
- Auxerre
- Bastia
- Bordeaux
- SM Caen
- AS Cannes
- EA Guingamp
- Le Havre AC
- RC Lens
- Lille OSC
- Olympique Lyonnais
- Olympique de Marseille
- FC Metz
- AS Monaco
- Montpellier HSC
- AS Nancy
- FC Nantes Atlantique
- OGC Nice
- Paris Saint-Germain FC
- Stade Rennais FC
- RC Strasbourg
League table
Promoted from Ligue 2, who will play in Division 1 season 1997/1998
Attendances
Source:| No. | Club | Average attendance | Change |
| 1 | Paris Saint-Germain FC | 35,582 | -4.7% |
| 2 | RC Lens | 22,977 | -9.9% |
| 3 | FC Nantes | 22,372 | -8.6% |
| 4 | Olympique lyonnais | 21,624 | -2.8% |
| 5 | Girondins de Bordeaux | 20,249 | 37.2% |
| 6 | Olympique de Marseille | 17,862 | -0.5% |
| 7 | RC Strasbourg | 17,341 | 13.1% |
| 8 | SM Caen | 15,893 | 24.7% |
| 9 | FC Metz | 14,701 | -8.1% |
| 10 | Stade rennais | 13,177 | 1.1% |
| 11 | Le Havre AC | 10,586 | 10.4% |
| 12 | AJ auxerroise | 10,503 | -4.6% |
| 13 | LOSC | 10,347 | 19.3% |
| 14 | MHSC | 10,125 | 2.0% |
| 15 | AS Nancy | 9,239 | 29.7% |
| 16 | EA Guingamp | 8,434 | -26.6% |
| 17 | AS Saint-Étienne | 8,061 | -41.4% |
| 18 | AS Monaco | 7,103 | 12.6% |
| 19 | SC Bastia | 5,415 | 12.4% |
| 20 | OGC Nice | 5,024 | -7.5% |