In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche on November 8, Vincent Labrune mentioned a possible reform of Ligue 1 with only 18 clubs.
Since then, the president of the Professional Football League has returned to his statements, indicating that the change in format of the French championship was not for tomorrow, and that a move to 18 clubs was not the main track of the LFP. This is good, such a reform would be absolutely catastrophic for French football. At least this is the opinion expressed by Pierre Ferracci, the boss of Paris FC, in the columns of L’Equipe. The leader of the Ile-de-France club particularly fears an unprecedented division of French football.
“Vincent Labrune is right to launch a reflection on the competitiveness of French football. But, I will not comment on the question of the format of the Championships and the return to 18 clubs because I think it is a secondary problem. And, above all, because it will divide football at a time when we need unity and solidarity. The clubs are having enormous difficulties and you start by telling them that 4 out of 40 are going to be kicked out of the competition. Didier Deschamps first protects the France team and its calendar. Noël Le Graët said it was not the moment to deal with the subject. If we need to reduce the calendars to protect the players, let’s have a debate at European level. The Coupe de la Ligue was brought to an abrupt halt last year. And it is not a problem of competitiveness. Why ? Sixteen of the last twenty Champions Leagues have been won by teams playing in 20-club Championships. And three of the last four World Cups by countries with a 20-club Championship ” said the boss of Paris FC, for whom a possible move to 18 clubs would not fail to divide the presidents of the clubs of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Difficult to get him wrong on this point …
