De Tavernost resigns as LFP Media chief after board rejects FIFA legal action | OneFootball

Nicolas de Tavernost resigned as LFP Media chief after a stormy LFP board meeting that refused to sue FIFA over handing 2026 World Cup rights to beIN Sports. According to L'Équipe, the session exposed deep rifts at the top of French football.

De Tavernost had pressed for legal action, arguing the tender was breached and that Ligue1+, his new channel, had been poised to win the rights. He arrived with lawyers and CVC France executive Jean-Christophe Germani.

Support swiftly fell away. With FFF president Philippe Diallo urging people to move on, director general Jean-François Vilotte said the federation would not oppose FIFA, and LFP chief Arnaud Rouger noted 20 years of alignment.

Attendees praised De Tavernost’s work but called his public claims rushed, from suggesting Ligue1+ would get the tournament to floating possible lawsuits on RTL. One participant accepted there were legal arguments, yet judged a lawsuit ill-timed and counterproductive.

De Tavernost said he could not continue, felt insufficiently backed, and would leave without seeking what he was owed, staying until a successor is named. Clubs countered that Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 colleges approved the push within 24 hours, with PSG chiefs Nasser al-Khelaïfi and Victoriano Melero absent.

Lorient’s Loïc Féry accused him of blackmail, Monaco’s Juan Sartori was combative, while Marseille’s Pablo Longoria and Nantes owner Waldemar Kita backed him. After De Tavernost blamed al-Khelaïfi, Melero defended his boss’s non-involvement and beIN’s role, PSG felt unfairly targeted, and Vincent Labrune rebuked Germani and questioned any future reset with De Tavernost.

Source: L'Équipe