Faced with growing criticism and a significant drop in television rights, French professional Football is seeking to defend its crucial role in the economy and society. A study commissioned by Foot Unis from Accuracy reveals the extent of its impact, while highlighting the challenges that lie ahead. President of Foot Unis, Jean-Pierre Caillot spoke at length.
Football: An undeniable economic weight
According to the 2024 Impact Barometer, professional clubs generated added value of 5.32 billion euros for the 2022-2023 season. This figure includes sectors as varied as hotels, restaurants, media and even sports betting. Nearly 40,000 jobs depend directly or indirectly on this activity, and the State receives 1.2 billion euros in tax revenue. However, this observation must be qualified by the public expenditure that football can entail, particularly for infrastructure and security.
Increased weakening by the reduction in TV rights
The reduction in audiovisual rights, now set at 500 million euros per year compared to 624 million previously, threatens the financial balance of many clubs, in particular those in Ligue 2 and National. This average drop of 25% complicates management for the less financially endowed teams. Jean-Pierre Caillot, president of Stade de Reims, warns: “Two footballs are emerging: that of clubs supported by foreign capital and that of others, true regional ambassadors, who suffer more. » He adds: “For a club like mine, it’s 50% less, because there is also the HVAC catch-up. This calls into question our ability to invest and maintain our jobs. »
A social impact threatened with the French football crisis
Beyond the economy, the clubs' social actions are also at stake. With an average budget of 300,000 euros devoted to charitable initiatives, these efforts have benefited more than a million people in 2022-2023. But the decline in resources puts these projects in danger, as does support for amateur sport. Jean-Pierre Caillot underlines: “We are called wealthy, but we must remember that not everyone has this type of remuneration. The counterpart is to bring enormous fiscal benefits to the French economy. » Concerning the impact on amateur sport, he specifies: “ The Nike contract was improved, and the president of the Federation said that he was going to redistribute it to the amateur world. What is not going to happen by professionals will happen by other means. »
Solutions to bounce back
To counter these challenges, “ we must continue to tighten our belts while finding innovative solutions to remain competitive”concludes Jean-Pierre Caillot.
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