in 1983, paris fc, then led by the industrialist jean-luc lagardère, merged with racing club de france. while racing remained in the first division, the remaining entity that was pfc was administratively relegated to the fourth division. due to having limited resources, paris fell to the division d'honneur after one season and, subsequently, spent four seasons in the fifth division before returning to division 4 in 1988. another promotion the following season saw paris earn a place in division 3. paris remained in the division for 12 years becoming inaugural members of the championnat national in the process. in 2000, the club finished 17th and were relegated to the championnat de france amateur. paris spent six years in the league before returning to national for the 2006–07 season. after a successful 2014–15 campaign, the club gained promotion to ligue 2, the french second division, alongside its local rival red star f.c. however, it would stay in ligue 2 for only one year and was relegated back to the championnat national for the 2016–17 season.