Is this the fire that the management of the Professional Football League (LFP) feared and that its detractors expected? It is, to say the least, a very severe document. After several months of work, the Senate’s information mission on the intervention of investment funds in French professional football, chaired by Laurent Lafon (UDI, Val-de-Marne), made public, on Wednesday, October 30, his report, adopted unanimously. Written by Michel Savin (Les Républicains, Isère), it points out a sector on the brink of the financial abyss, including “the economy [est] reinvent » after several successive crises – from the defection of the broadcaster Mediapro, at the beginning of 2021, to the last allocation, much lower than expected, of the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights –, and burdened by a full operation of failures.
“French football is in a phase of great economic turbulence. Their model is completely impacted, with the strategic errors of an LFP that announced unrealistic figures and does not fully understand the market in which it must intervene, and of clubs that lacked foresight.”comments Laurent Lafon, World.
Stating that “clubs contribute to the economic vitality of the territories and their identity”, The report highlights the need for “find new recipes” and work for “improve the image of football to develop the interest of the general public and regain the trust of investors and partners”. And it presents thirty-five recommendations to stop the crisis.
“Multi-speed championship”
The senators want, in particular, to strengthen the control of the LFP (which benefits from a subdelegation of public services) by its supervisory authorities. “The LFP has become completely autonomous and has lost its compass. The absence of the State, through the Ministry of Sports, and the French Football Federation was detrimental, Mr. Lafon believes. They have not fully played their role and must have a more directive and legal role. »
It is necessary to review the governance of the institution, says Michel Savin, who recommends the mandatory creation of audit and remuneration committees, including independent directors, in the governing bodies of professional leagues. A bill containing several recommendations will be presented in the coming weeks.
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