French professional sport governance reform adopted after unanimous Senate vote | OneFootball

The French Senate has unanimously approved a law overhauling professional sport governance, completing adoption a day after the National Assembly vote.

All 342 senators backed the 45-article text. According to L'Équipe, it follows an inquiry into football misconduct and also covers women's sport, agents and piracy.

Federations may revoke the sub-delegation from leagues in cases of failure or funding strain, directly affecting the FFF and LFP after an 80% TV-rights fall in six years. The law also lets the Federation create a commercial company, narrows TV income distribution to a 1 to 3 ratio and targets conflicts of interest in broadcast tenders.

Oversight of club multi-ownership is tightened, though the practice is not banned.

FFF president Philippe Diallo called the reform historic and necessary, and urged stakeholders to build a framework of trust for the sporting and economic development of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. He plans to gather clubs, the LFP, CVC and others in the season to start work on a clubs' commercial company and the sub-delegation convention tying it to the FFF.

One article caps pay for federation and league employees at €450,000 a year, with any higher offer for a key role needing a Sports Ministry waiver. Sports minister Marina Ferrari restated her opposition, noting the state subsidy is 1.7% of the FFF budget.

The law also targets illegal streaming, put at €300 million in losses, and tightens regulation of agents. Sports lawyer Smaïn Guennad called it a major reform, and Ferrari pledged swift implementing decrees.

Source: L'Équipe