An increasingly complicated situation, as indicated by Laurent Lairy, president of Laval, in recent hours. In the process, the daily L'Équipe published an interview with Jean-Marc Mickeler in which the latter speaks without filter on the current state of French Football. As of June 30, the operating loss of French clubs was “of the order of one billion euros, offset by very good sales with 830 million euros of capital gains on player transfers” reports the president of the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG). “Which generates a net loss of around 250 million euros (150 in L1, 100 in L2).”
As a result, the financial policeman of French football is now thinking of reducing the payroll of French teams. “At the DNCG, we think in any case that the absolute priority for our clubs between now and next May is to reduce payroll. When we look at all the clubs monitored by UEFA, there is a ratio of payroll to income of 53%. In France, it is 67%” he explains, figures to his name. And, inevitably, the management of Vincent Labrune, re-elected president of the Professional Football League (LFP), will be more than scrutinized.
The drop in TV rights changed everything
“The DNCG is concerned. It shares this concern with the managers and shareholders of the clubs” responded Jean-Marc Mickeler regarding potential bankruptcies within the first two French divisions. “Money is not everything. Everyone will have to be convinced of that. The economic model as it existed is dead” he continues, while the losses should be even greater this season due to lower revenue. Particularly because of the latest TV Rights deal signed by Vincent Labrune. Concerning these TV rights, the drop in the overall amount is “neither surprising nor exceptional” according to the boss of the DNCG. “The net rights deficit (TV) will amount to 96 million for the 2024-2025 season. This amount, although significant, should not plunge French football into an existential crisis if the economic model remains under control” concludes Mickeler. this subject.
To summarize
An increasingly complicated situation, as indicated by Laurent Lairy, president of Laval, in recent hours. In the process, the daily L'Équipe published an interview with Jean-Marc Mickeler in which the latter speaks without filter on the current state of French football.
