[Ligue 1] Michel Savin (Senator): “A lot of respect for Messrs. Kita and Nicollin, but there are some surprising things”

On Wednesday afternoon, Laurent Nicollin, as was the case for several other Presidents previously, faced the Senate as part of the fact-finding mission on the intervention of investment funds in French football. Mainly the arrival of CVC and the impact on the clubs in our championship. He was accompanied by the president of FC Nantes, Waldemar Kita.

Near The teamMichel Savin, senator of the Republicans and rapporteur of this fact-finding mission, took stock of the initial findings established after conducting numerous hearings. He mentioned in particular the recent visit of the leader Pailladin:

“With the president of the mission, Laurent Lafon, and several of our colleagues, we have conducted around thirty hearings so far. We will still have some between now and July 15th. And we will carry out others in September depending on the result of the call for tenders for TV rights and its consequences. There will also be rehearings because we have listed contradictions. Yesterday (Wednesday) again, presidents Kita (Nantes) and Nicollin (Montpellier) told us that they had not read the financial pact and the business plan of the commercial company, while Vincent Labrune told us that all presidents had knowledge of these documents. Our fact-finding mission authority runs until September 27, then we will write our report. »

That so much money is in the hands of officials who do not know or are not interested in these elements, that concerns us. Just like the fact that they blindly trust a few people. I have a lot of respect for Messrs. Kita and Nicollin because it is their personal money that they invest in their club but there are things that seem surprising to us. A group of presidents seems to be mobilizing to try to rediscuss the future distribution of television rights. The president of the League told us that it was out of the question, it risks creating tensions.

The next few days should not lack entertainment when the senator himself is worried about the near future of Ligue 1 clubs with the possible creation of a 100% Ligue 1 channel: “If the LFP creates it, there will be no money before December. How are clubs going to pay salaries between now and then? Afterwards, when CVC tells us that they are discussing with Canal, I tell myself that there is still a possibility that Canal+ will position itself, but under what conditions and at what price? »