League 1 | Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, L1, show… John Textor is not wrong (on everything)

His words really don't need that to have weight. Textor is and will always be listened to for the simple reason that he is the only one to oppose so forcefully the current governance of French football. This doesn't mean he will always be right about everything. Impossible to follow him, for example, in his fight against the DNCG. The body is far from perfect but it is the policeman of French football, and not of the galaxies of timeshares whose sleight of hand moves money from one country to another.

But in this same interview, John Textor raised other issues with much more sensible opinions. Starting with the role of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. “In July, I was completely shocked because we talked about TV rights and the president of the League, who was supposed to lead the debates, said almost nothinghe explained. It was Nasser who led the debates, even though he should not have even been present, as the head of a television channel directly involved in the debates. If there was a discordant voice, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi 'barked' at that person, there was a lot of intimidation too.”

The weight of “NAK”, and his more than privileged relationship with Vincent Labrune – regularly present at the Parc des Princes – allowed him to play a direct role in most of the decisions which have plagued French football in recent months: the attribution rights to a broadcaster that has been out of the ground for a long time – Al-Khelaïfi especially did not want the creation of a channel by the League, unlike OL -, the (very unequal) redistribution of wealth to French clubs, or even… . the organization of the last Champions Trophy in Qatar.

The Parisian leader defends above all the interests of his club. Which is not really surprising. But this is not always very wise. When Paris always does everything to carve out the largest shares of revenue (HVAC contract, TV rights), the Premier League clubs are committed to a more equitable redistribution, and above all based on a model rational (ranking, visibility, etc.). This is how England maintains the best league in the world – and the billions it generates. This is also how PSG develops, financially and sportingly, a League which is of less and less interest to broadcasters and spectators. And which therefore loses its value.

The L1 is now a second-rate championship which no longer has much to promise to those who watch it. And who doesn't have ideas for making themselves a little more attractive. “We need to tell storiesinsisted Textor. Why watch this match? Le Havre for example? Where is it located? Normandy? What is the weather like? Are the girls there pretty? Ditto for Paris FC. It's a billionaire who bought it. Who is he? Who does he get along with or not? The wife of the owner of Rennes is Salma Hayek, that too we should be able to talk about. Tell me about the cities, the people, the players.”

This proposal resembles another formulated by Cyril Linette, beaten (unsurprisingly) in the race for the election of president of the LFP. And although some formulations may surprise – Textor in the text! – the general idea has already been tested in other disciplines, such as F1 or cycling. But also in football, with a successful series built around the Sunderland club.

“The product shown by the League on television, generally speaking, is rubbishadded the OL boss. But no one cares.” The players in French football are only interested in their personal interests. Without understanding that they would be better served with a strong and sensible collective project. Textor is aware of this. But he is still alone. Too alone .