In the end, three candidates will be able to compete for the presidency of the Professional Football League (LFP), the election of which is scheduled for 10 September. Against the incumbent for four years, Vincent Labrune, favourite although criticised for his recent management of the Ligue 1 national broadcasting rights file, Cyril Linette finally qualified to compete, thanks to the intervention of the resigning Minister of Sport, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, with the approval of the Elysée.
The former CEO of The team and the PMU initially failed to gather the necessary sponsorships for the preselection of candidates. A third man, Karl Olive, a (Renaissance) MP for Yvelines, may also stand for the presidency. He has not yet made his intentions clear and could speak out soon to explain his position.
“I had to make a formal commitment to the families [du football], anxious to maintain a share of the vote, not to remain on the board of directors in case he is not elected president”reacted this Monday, September 2nd on X Cyril Linette. A journalist by training, the former sports director of Canal+ believes that “French football must review its economic model”while it is once again on the brink of financial crisis. At issue: the disappointing result of the allocation of new television rights this summer, with annual revenues falling sharply to 500 million euros.
The election for the LFP presidency is a particularly sophisticated process. To be a candidate, you must first be in one of the three independent administrator positions on the body’s council, which chooses from among its members the one it finally presents to the League’s general assembly. Previously, the contenders must obtain two different sponsorships: one comes from Foot Unis, the association of “Professional football employers”One represents the community of clubs in Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and National; the other represents the Union of Footballers (UAF), or the “football families”, or the unions specialising in football by trade (players, coaches, referees, etc.).
“Spoiling business between friends”
On 29 August, the general assembly of Foot Unis decided to place its trust in four men: Vincent Labrune, first in the vote, Cyril Linette, well placed in second place, Gervais Martel, former president of Racing Club de Lens, and the MP Karl Olive, very close to Emmanuel Macron. Appointed by the French Football Federation to represent it, the latter, who is already on the board of directors of the LFP, is guaranteed his renewal as an independent member.
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