FFF. A misleading budget for amateur football!

The FFF executive committee announces a record budget of 140 million euros for amateur football. But this isn’t really the reality.

“It’s an exceptional budget in a difficult general economic context that signals a responsible Federation that keeps its promises,” said Philippe Diallo during a press conference after the Comex meeting. “We are giving ourselves the means to act, especially for amateur football and women’s football.”

Following the executive committee on Thursday, April 16, the FFF president assured that the federal institution would increase the budget for amateur football. This speech has been consistent for the past few months since the major plan announced last November 20. But for the past two years, the budget for amateur football has been misleading. After integrating the budget of the Professional Women’s Football League (LFFP) into that of amateur football, the FFF has also included that of League 3.

Out of the 140 million planned in the 2026-2027 budget forecast, we must deduct the 15 million for the LFFP and the 13 million for League 3. So, 28 million euros that won’t go to amateur football. It remains to be seen what will be the undisclosed portion for the Leagues and Districts. But in the end, amateur clubs—and we’re talking about regional and departmental clubs—won’t receive much more. A real eye-catching budget.

The FFF therefore announces a record budget of 322 million euros. Running a deficit of 8.7 million last season—despite anticipating revenues in advance from the Nike partnership for over 50 million euros—the question is, what are these revenues based on? Considering that the 2026 World Cup will (almost) bring in nothing with immense costs in the United States. And it could even be a fiasco in case of premature elimination of the French team—a scenario no one wishes for!