This year, more than ever, the elections to the Professional Football League (LFP) did not escape the attention of supporters of Ligue 1 clubs. And for good reason, the stakes were high, given the financial crisis that French football is going through.
Despite a contested record on several fronts – TV rights, CVC, the League’s lifestyle, etc. – Vincent Labrune was acclaimed by the LFP board of directors. Opposed to Cyril Linette, he won 14 of the 17 votes and will remain in office until 2028. Some presidents, those of Le Havre and Lyon, have castigated the electoral process, considering it undemocratic.
On the occasion of the reception of Reims this Sunday, September 15, the Nantes supporters displayed their hostility to the president of the LFP. “The Labrune mafia is going to kill French football”, wrote the members of the Brigade Loire on a banner.
The case is in question
What will Waldemar Kita think? The president of FC Nantes, already not very popular with the Canaries’ supporters, had defended the candidacy of Vincent Labrune before the election. “I support competent people,” he declared.
A strange about-face as the Franco-Polish businessman considered the LFP president’s record to be rather insufficient. He had even announced that he was leaving the League’s board of directors a few days earlier, imitating Joseph Oughourlian, the boss of Lens.
Antoine Kombouaré, the Canaries coach, was particularly offensive on the LFP issue at a press conference. “The presidents have decided to trust again Vincent Labrune. They are better placed than me and you to know what this boy will bring to French football. On the other hand, they must stop complaining,” he warns. “We must stop crying about the fact that we no longer have money today and that the clubs are in difficulty.”
“Either you’re stupid or you’re doing it on purpose.”
During Nantes-Reims, a second banner was also unveiled by the Brigade Loire. This time its message is directed against one of the broadcasters of the championship. Not beIN Sports, widely contested by fans of Ligue 2 clubs, but against DAZN.
“Programming two Ligue 1 matches on Friday in the middle of protests… DAZN: either you’re stupid, or you’re doing it on purpose. Probably both,” deplore the Nantes supporters.
The authors of the banner are referring to the distribution of matches on the 6th day. Exceptionally, it will open with an Auxerre-Brest at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 27. This match will be followed by a PSG-Rennes at 9 p.m. And for good reason, the Breton club and the team from the capital will be back on the pitches in the Champions League the following Tuesday, respectively against Salzburg and Arsenal.
- RMC Sport
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