The examination of the reform of professional sports still postponed

While it was supposed to be studied by the National Assembly from May 18, the examination of the bill aimed at reforming French football has been postponed again, according to RMC Sport.

The bill relating to the organization, management, and financing of professional sports was supposed to be studied by the National Assembly from May 18. But its examination has been delayed, RMC Sport learned from concordant sources. The examination of the military programming law, and its important schedule, necessitates the postponement of the bill, which now needs to find a new slot for its examination before the National Assembly.

However, the committee stage and the examination of amendments remain in place. If adopted, as was the case by the Senate last June, this law would revolutionize the governance of French football as we know it today. The LFP would disappear and should make way for a company of clubs, with significant powers for the FFF.

“This evolution is essential”

In early March, seven presidents of Ligue 1, including those of OL and OM (but not PSG and Lille, close to the president of the LFP, Vincent Labrune), had published a statement urging the government to accelerate the agenda of this bill. They had warned about the repercussions of the TV rights crisis on the local economy, the clubs, and the competitiveness of French teams in European competitions.

“To replace the current national league, whose status as a simple association has become inadequate, it would allow the creation of a company of clubs, following the model of what already exists in several major European championships,” they wrote. “This evolution is essential to professionalize the management of audiovisual rights and rethink the strategy of enhancing our championship in front of the public and broadcasters.”