French football is undergoing a historic transformation with the reform proposal presented by Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation (FFF). This project, inspired by the English Premier League model, envisages the disappearance of the Professional Football League (LFP) and the creation of a commercial company in which the clubs would be shareholders, while the FFF would assume a supervisory role.
The reform seeks to address structural and financial problems affecting professional football in France, marking a radical change in its economic and governance model. According to Diallo, the new model will consist of a commercial company managed by an executive board hired by the clubs, but with the FFF retaining a preferential share that will allow it to guarantee the general interest. “It’s a sort of French-style Premier League, but it’s not simply a copy-and-paste,” Diallo explained in statements to various French media.
In addition, the FFF will have veto rights over key aspects such as the format of the competition and the number of promotions and relegations, taking over powers that until now were the responsibility of the LFP.
Financial crisis and television rights
The reform comes against a backdrop of financial crisis in French football, with deficits estimated at between €1.2 billion and €1.3 billion, according to the National Management Control Directorate (DNCG). Diallo stressed that “the current crisis is serious and structural” and that the economic model based on audiovisual rights and transfers is being questioned.
The distribution of television rights will be another key point of the reform, as many clubs are facing economic difficulties due to the drop in revenues in this area.
Working groups to define the reform
To develop this transformation, Diallo created three working groups led by Marc Keller, Baptiste Malherbe and Damien Comolli. These teams will focus on governance, economic strategy and financial control, with the aim of presenting a comprehensive plan that will enable the clubs to adapt to the new market requirements. The draft plan will be presented to the FFF Executive Council in June, marking an important step towards the implementation of the reform.
CVC and investment in French football
A highlight of the project is the involvement of the investment fund CVC, which owns 13% of the capital of the LFP’s current commercial company. Diallo stressed the importance of convincing CVC of the benefits of this reform to secure its support and participation in the new model.
The reform also includes the implementation of a ‘financial fair play’ to control the clubs’ wage bill and guarantee their economic sustainability. In addition, negotiations on the distribution of television rights will be opened to find solutions to the current problems.
