“Risk of Downgrading”
The forum thus recalls the economic weight of professional clubs – “40,000 jobs in our country, which generate a total of more than 5 billion euros”, and “more than one billion euros in tax and social contributions”. And thus alert to a “fragilized ecosystem”, especially compared to the major European championships, essentially due to the fall in TV rights for several seasons. “Audiovisual rights now represent only 19% of the total revenue of Ligue 1 clubs, compared to 35% to 46% in other major European leagues,” write the seven leaders.
Michele Kang, Bernard Serin, and Frank McCourt thus worry about the sporting consequences of this situation, and of a “risk of downgrading” of French professional football. They therefore call, through this bill, to “professionalize the management of audiovisual rights and rethink the strategy of valorizing our championship to the public and broadcasters”. This would involve, among other things, the replacement of the current Professional Football League (LFP), chaired by Vincent Labrune, with a club company, “on the model of what already exists in several major European championships”. The message has been received.
(*) The seven signatories of the forum: Guillaume Cerutti, President of the Board of Directors of Stade Rennais FC; Pierre Ferracci, President of Paris FC; Michele Kang, President of Olympique Lyonnais; Frank McCourt, Owner of Olympique de Marseille and Executive Chairman, McCourt Global; Joseph Oughourlian, Owner and President of RC Lens; Jean-Michel Roussier, President of Havre AC; Bernard Serin, Owner and President of FC Metz
