Football. Racing Club de Strasbourg: the Minister of Sports wants multipropriety to be regulated at a European level

On Thursday, the French football world will have its eyes fixed on the Meinau stadium for the return leg of the Conference League semi-final against Rayo Vallecano from Spain. Marina Ferrari, the Minister of Sports, Youth, and Community Life, who has been in office since last October, will be among the Racing supporters.

“It was important for me to come, especially because a very important match will be played here on Thursday, it’s time to support the team,” Marina Ferrari explained on the sidelines of the league match that the Blues lost against Toulouse (1-2) on Sunday.

“To be successful, our clubs need foreign capital,”

This was an opportunity for the Savoyard to discuss with the leaders of the two clubs, namely Marc Keller of Strasbourg and Olivier Cloarec of Toulouse, about the proposed law on reforming the governance of professional sports.

Adopted unanimously by the Senate last June, this “important text,” as described by the minister, will be presented to the National Assembly on May 18.

The project includes a major overhaul of French football with the disappearance of the Professional League (LFP) in favor of a company made up of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs, supported by private partners.

“This gives me the opportunity to discuss with the leaders about their expectations,” Marina Ferrari said. “Today, we have an economic problem, with many media rights being lost due to piracy. There is also a part that will address the structuring of professional women’s sports. In Strasbourg, there is a women’s section that is developing well.”

Asked about the issue of multiproperty affecting both Racing and Toulouse, the minister highlighted the need for foreign capital for clubs to be competitive at the European level.

“What needs to be understood is that this is a phenomenon that goes beyond national borders,” she stressed. “So I am in favor of regulating multiproperty, but at the European level.” This message will be conveyed by Marina Ferrari at the Council of Europe on May 11 and 12.

“Multiproperty does not cause a deficit”

It remains to be seen if this model is sustainable. The recent report from the DNCG, the financial “watchdog” for football, highlighted that French football is largely in deficit.

For example, Racing lost a record amount of 78.3 million euros in the last financial year (2024-2025). Should this be a cause for concern?

“It is not multiproperty that causes a deficit, it is the economic difficulties of French football,” the minister responded. “Today, we estimate losses related to piracy at 1.5 billion euros for culture and sport, including over 390 million for sport alone. So it is crucial to combat this phenomenon. On multiproperty, we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Without investors, we could not have maintained clubs at a certain level.”

“Respecting the identity of clubs and territories”

As we approach a potentially exciting week, with PSG and Racing on the verge of a European final, Marina Ferrari delivers an optimistic message to the supporters, acknowledging their concerns. But for the minister, safeguards are in place.

“Our role, as public authorities, is to ensure that everything is well regulated and especially that the identity of clubs and territories is respected,” she explained. “Here, it seems to me that Marc Keller’s leadership ensures that the soul of the club is preserved. Just because an investor is foreign, it doesn’t mean they will change the club. What defines the soul are the supporters, the territory, and the enthusiasm around it. And in France, we are very attached to that.”