The Professional Football League (LFP) requested “urgent” financial aid from the French Government on Tuesday to save the threat of financial bankruptcy looming over various clubs caused by the effects of the pandemic. Specifically, the LFP requested “an urgent meeting” with the Ministries of Economy and Education and Sports to devise a “support plan” to help clubs “survive” their difficult financial situation. The clubs that make up the League already register losses of more than 1,000 million euros so far this season, according to the LFP in a statement.
He added that the breaking of the television rights contract with the Spanish Mediapro and the signing of a new one (but with much smaller amounts) with Canal +, it will deprive them of 548 million euros. To this must be added the lack of income from tickets, the decrease in external sponsorships and the lack of transfers of players to other leagues, also affected by the pandemic. Thus, The LFP emphasizes in its statement that the 100 million state aid that the Government already allocated to football in November has proven “insufficient” so that clubs can maintain their activity.
French football further alleges that the clubs have already made great efforts to adapt to this significant drop in income, both through wage reduction negotiations with players and through the reforms that the LFP is preparing to ensure its future. Some clubs have even initiated procedures to cut the number of their employees. A few weeks ago, the sports newspaper L'Equipe pointed out that the League had already asked the president of the country, Emmanuel Macron, for help to intercede with possible buyers to unblock the purchase of television rights and thus be able to float with that payment. Nevertheless, the President of the Republic refused to help French football on that occasion.