What if the solution to save French football was… to imitate England? This is, in summary, the risky bet of Philippe Diallo. The president of the FFF unveiled this Monday, his project as a “first French league” project on Monday: a deep reform of professional football, with the disappearance of the LFP, the creation of a commercial company led by clubs, and a reinforced role for the Federation. Ambitious ? Certainly. Visionary? Maybe. But above all, totally unrealistic with regard to the current situation of hexagonal football.
A lagging France that dreams like a big
The Premier League is 6 billion euros in TV rights, full stadiums, and a global brand. Ligue 1 is a championship in chronic deficit, without a broadcaster for next season, and dependent on an investment fund (CVC) to keep its economy afraid. Wanting to sing the English model in this context is a form of flight forward. Philippe Diallo promises a project “Original, French and modern”,
But its implementation seems as vague as well as expensive.
An ideological turn … without guarantee of result
The idea of entrusting the reins to a commercial company, with shareholder clubs and a named board, breaks with the current elective model. The FFF keeps a right of veto and recovers the DNCG, but the abolition of the LFP and the future organization ask many questions. Who will pilot really? What balance between sporting interests and financial logic? Nothing seems clear yet.
“Premier French League”: when the FFF dreams in great … without means
A theoretical reform in the face of a concrete emergency
Meanwhile, problems accumulate. TV broadcasting is uncertain, hacking explodes, and the DNCG fears a wave of future deficits. Capping wages, workforce control, multi -ownership regulation: the Federation offers common sense measures … but secondary in front of the current economic chasm.
An ambition that borders on the absurd
As the house burns, Diallo dreams of cathedral. His project is not lacking in breath, but ignores reality. Before imagining a Ligue 1 modeled on the Premier League, it might have to start by saving it.
