The Senate will launch in the coming weeks an information mission on the commercial company of the Professional Football League (LFP), created after a partial transfer of capital to the CVC investment fund, the president of the sports commission confirmed this Monday January 29.
“As part of our control missions, we wish to verify the implementation and financial mechanisms of the creation of this commercial company,” explained Senator Laurent Lafon, following information from the daily newspaper The Team.
The chairman of the Senate culture, education and sport committee also indicated that this fact-finding mission would “probably” acquire the powers of a commission of inquiry, which will give it expanded prerogatives, in its investigation as well as in its hearings. . She will then have six months to conduct her hearings and produce a report.
An investigation while the League awaits 1.5 billion euros from CVC
The fact-finding mission will launch its work “within a month,” he added. In the current context of negotiations still underway for the allocation of audiovisual rights to Ligue 1, “we want to know what added value this commercial company brings to the file,” explained Laurent Lafon, member of the centrist group.
The agreement concluded in April 2022 by the LFP with the Luxembourg investment fund CVC Capital Partners should bring 1.5 billion euros to French professional football, compared to 13.04% of its lifetime income for CVC. The distribution between the clubs of the windfall resulting from this agreement is contested in court by the Le Havre club, which considers itself cheated.
In recent years, the Senate has increased the number of commissions of inquiry with significant repercussions in the public sphere, from the Benalla affair to the Marianne Fund, including the growing influence of consulting firms in public policies.
