Since PSG’s victory in Lyon (3-2), criticism has been raining down on Ligue 1+. Accused of “censorship” after the omission of a key sequence in the editing of the famous “Ref Cam”, the broadcaster found itself at the center of a media storm. Lyon supporters denounce deliberate manipulation, pointing out supposed opacity in the management of images. But instead of calming the anger, the channel chose a very different strategy. A way of responding without justifying oneself.
Figures brandished as an answer
In a press release published Monday, Ligue 1+ does not apologize. She congratulates herself. By emphasizing that the OL-PSG clash brought together 903,000 viewers on averagewith a
peak at 1.07 million At the end of the match, the channel prefers to display its success rather than respond to the accusations. “Second best audience of the season”, “third national channel for the 25-49 year old male target”, “record 37 million impressions on social networks”: a triumphant press release, without a word on the controversy. For many, this is an assumed snub to criticism.
In Lyon, this posture goes badly. On the networks, OL supporters are ironic about a
“communication lesson” given by a broadcaster
“deaf to the anger of the fans”. Some accuse Ligue 1+ of “despise your audience”others to use his figures
“like a shield” to distract the eye from the root of the problem: the transparency of images. In the aisles of Groupama Stadium, unease persists. And the silence on the Ref Cam affair only fuels mistrust.
Ligue 1+, the choice of denial
Rather than recognizing an error, Ligue 1+ seems to want to impose a narrative: that of popular success. Counter-current crisis communication, which relies on the strength of numbers to minimize the weight of emotions. However, the question remains: how can a tool presented as a transparency innovation trigger so much suspicion?
This standoff illustrates a growing divide between broadcasters and supporters. One talks about ratings, the others talk about fairness. By ignoring the heart of the debate, Ligue 1+ exposes itself to a blowback. Because if the OL-PSG match was a success with the audience, it will remain, above all, for many, the symbol of an evening where communication replaced responsibility.
