Ligue 1 2026-27: mic'd refs, new TV home and reshaped schedule as season kicks off | OneFootball

Ligue 1 returns on Friday, with mic'd referees, a single broadcaster and a reshaped weekend schedule among the standout changes for 2026-27.

According to Le Progres, referee audio will be in place at all matches and in every stadium, used only to explain decisions after video review rather than throughout games.

Every game moves to Ligue 1+, with nine fixtures each weekend. Fridays keep a 20h45 opener, Saturdays add a 17h15 kick-off before a four-match 20h45 multiplex, and Sundays slim to 15h, 17h15 and 20h45. Round 14 on 12-13 December precedes an extended break until early January 2027.

The opening slate features Marseille v Strasbourg on Friday, Lens v Auxerre on Saturday and Paris SG v Rennes on Sunday night. Le Mans, back after 16 years, host Brest, while Toulouse face Lyon in the late slot.

PSG have added Ferran Torres, a World Cup final goalscorer, plus Belgian winger Mika Godts and Maghnès Akliouche. Lyon bring in Julien Duranville for five million euros and Danish defender Mads Bidstrup. Rennes sign 21-year-old striker Eliezer Mayenda for 22 million euros, and Strasbourg recruit 20-year-old Jacobo Ortega.

A reform would see a commercial company under the FFF replace the LFP. Philippe Diallo is expected to gather professional clubs to discuss the framework, which aims to narrow TV redistribution gaps, limit conflicts of interest and tighten multi-club ownership controls.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”