Four Ligue 1 presidents ‘call for’ governance overhaul amid financial crisis | OneFootball

Four Ligue 1 presidents have urged an overhaul of the governance of French professional football. In an opinion piece published by Le Monde, they warn that only deep change could prevent long-term decline.

The heads of Olympique de Marseille, RC Lens, Stade Rennais and Le Havre say the current model no longer meets the sport’s economic realities.

They argue the crisis goes beyond the recent slump in domestic broadcasting income, citing disputed strategic decisions and an institutional set-up they view as outdated. The failure of the Ligue 1+ platform run by LFP Media, which was meant to boost club revenues through new content, has, in their view, exposed those weaknesses.

While acknowledging clubs share responsibility, the signatories press for structural change. They want governance, currently organised as an association, reshaped to match a sector worth several hundred million euros, with more professionalism, transparency and oversight.

They also call for clarity in the competitive environment, saying vague rules fuel tensions and undermine the league. Without swift reform, they warn, French professional football faces an inevitable downgrading compared with European neighbours, particularly the Premier League.

Source: L'Équipe