Philippe Diallo, president of French Football’s governing body Fédération Française de Football (FFF) has proposed a complete overhaul of the crisis-hit sector governance to create a club-led company, that would be responsible for commercial matters and would replace the current French football league Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).“We’re going to move from a league that was an association under the 1901 law to a company whose shares will be owned by the clubs,” he explained. “Tomorrow, there will no longer be an elected president [currently Vincent Labrune] but rather professionals appointed and paid to run the future commercial company.”Such a reform means that the corporate purpose of LFP Media which is based on “promoting products” will be “extended to the physical organisation of the championship”.Somewhat radical, the plan, which also seeks granting the FFF a right of veto on general interest matters, is being made as M6 former CEO, Nicolas de Tavernost, has been named the new head of LFP Media.He is set to make a number of recommendations, by the end of May, on how the Ligue 1 championship will be broadcast from August 2025, following the end of its relationship with DAZN.If it comes to fruition, this reform, which is inspired by the English Premier League model, would see the end of the LFP as it currently exists. Labrune, re-elected as President in September 2024 until 2028, has already declared himself as “very favourable for a move forward a model close to that of the Premier League”.There’s still a long way to go as the plan must enter the legislative field to become a reality.Diallo, who is also urging clubs to open negotiations on a different distribution of audiovisual rights, expects to lean on the Senate’s June 10th review dedicated to the governance of professional sport.In light of the legislative calendar, the ‘French Premier League’ project may not see the light of day for several months or even a few years, “at best for the 2026-2027 season,” expects Diallo.
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