The information revealed by RMC Sport is enough to leave you speechless. LFP Media, the entity responsible for promoting high-level French football, wants to acquire the rights to Girondins de Bordeaux home matches for its Ligue 1+ package. In other words: the official broadcaster of the elite offers its subscribers fourth division posters. Behind this unusual operation, we find Nicolas de Tavernost, former boss of the club and today vice-president of the structure, who seems to want to give his former club a boost.
The reign of “double standards”
This decision raises questions in light of the recent history of French football. Where was the LFP when RC Strasbourg, SC Bastia or FC Sochaux-Montbéliard had to start from scratch? These historic clubs experienced their descent in discretion, without anyone mobilizing professional broadcasting resources to cover their matches against village teams. That the LFP is mobilizing because it is about Bordeaux and its connections raises legitimate questions. All historic clubs obviously do not benefit from the same treatment.
Beyond the unusual aspect of the situation, it is a question of sporting fairness that arises. The National 2 is an amateur championship where every euro counts. If Bordeaux, which already has a budget much higher than that of its opponents, begins to receive revenue linked to national broadcasting orchestrated by the LFP, we are moving away from sporting fairness. How can you justify a club benefiting from elite exposure and revenue while playing against teams run by volunteers?
An operation that raises questions
The most surprising thing in this matter remains the product offered. Sportingly, the Girondins do not even dominate their group, sitting in third place. Ligue 1+ is not going to broadcast a spectacular comeback, but rather the difficulties of a club which goes from crisis to crisis.
By seeking to capitalize on the name of a club in difficulty, the LFP transforms the Bordeaux course into a spectacle. Bordeaux needs to rebuild itself discreetly, not to be showcased on a TV catalog in search of content. This initiative raises more questions than it answers. It remains to be seen whether the League will follow through with this surprising idea.
