French football is going through a very delicate moment. In fact, it is almost critical. Kylian Mbapp’s departure to Real Madrid will not only affect the quality of football in the French top division, but it is also having a major impact on the overall economy of Ligue 1.
At the moment, it is the television rights that are keeping the whole of French football on tenterhooks.
In fact, with two months to go before the start of the 2024/25 season, no network has presented an offer to broadcast the French league. According to Le Parisien, the situation is now bordering on disaster. The league are even said to be considering the option of creating a Ligue 1 channel and reducing the bill by putting Internet service providers in the mix.
Some rumors even suggest that months ago, Macron himself personally asked the emir of Qatar to save French soccer by making a big offer through his sports channel Bein Sports. However, those reports claimed that the emir refused to enter the bidding for a Ligue 1 that has lost a lot of value after the confirmed departure of Mbappe.
Numbers don’t look good for Ligue 1
The figures, in fact, are devastating. Vincent Labrune, president of the French league, started asking for 700 million for the rights a few months ago, but the departure of the great standard-setter to the Spanish capital may have led to the fact that no broadcaster is willing to pay even half that amount.
The situation is very complicated and could have a direct impact on this transfer market. Jean-Marc Mickeler, president of Ligue 1’s financial watchdog, has reportedly sent a letter to club presidents to encourage them to exercise extreme caution when drawing up their budget forecasts for this summer.
