1.2 billion euros, the colossal debt of French football

French football is going through a major financial crisis. According to forecasts from the National Management Control Department (DNCG), Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs could accumulate a debt of 1.2 billion euros. A worrying situation which reveals the structural flaws of the clubs' economic model.

During a board meeting in November, Jean-Marc Mickeler, president of the DNCG, underlined the fragility of the system: “French clubs generate less operating income than those in the major European leagues. Their viability relies on the sale of talent. » This dependence on the transfer window, accentuated by insufficient cost control, is showing its limits, particularly in the face of the collapse in television revenues. The move to 18 clubs in Ligue 1, reducing the number of matches, also worsens the losses.

An uncertain future

To make up for this deficit, the DNCG is banking on the sale of “bankable” players, a solution which, although essential, weakens sporting competitiveness. The situation illustrates a vicious circle where the degraded economy impacts performance, making clubs less attractive. With French football at a crossroads, economic reforms are becoming urgent.