The “match” between Mediapro and the Professional Football League (LFP) continues. The Sino-Spanish audiovisual group, which conquered 80% of the rights to Ligue 1 in 2018 for 780 million euros per year, has still not paid the first part of the money, which is due since the start of the month of October.
In an interview with the JDD this Sunday, Vincent Labrune, the president of the LFP, expects Mediapro “to respect its commitments, and that at a minimum, they show responsibility in the outcome of the crisis that (them) oppose”.
The former president of Olympique de Marseille (2011-2016), elected president of the LFP last September, says he is “ready” to “face” the broadcaster. “I knew that such an earthquake was not to be ruled out and that a renegotiation of these TV rights was to be expected,” said the 49-year-old communicator.
He wants to “open the debate” on the number of clubs in Ligue 1
The Mediapro group, owner of the Téléfoot channel and the majority of the broadcasting rights for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 until 2024, wishes to review the terms of the contract and has initiated a conciliation procedure with the League. Discussions can last up to five months and worry professional clubs, which derive on average a third of their income from TV rights. According to the newspaper L’Equipe, the first installment not paid by Mediapro amounts to 172 million euros.
On another subject, Vincent Labrune believes that there are “too many competitions, too many clubs, too many players” in Europe and would like to “open the debate” on the number of clubs in L1 and L2, the two French professional divisions . For the moment, these two championships have 20 clubs each.
