Ligue 1 is in danger.
Here is, in summary, the message that Vincent Labrune wanted to send to senators this Wednesday morning.
Heard, along with its managing director Arnaud Rouger, by the institution's culture, education and communication committee, the president of the Professional Football League spoke of the economic difficulties of the hexagonal elite, between lower TV rights and restrictions linked to the pandemic.
And also the risk of downgrading that weighs on its clubs.
"In the very short term, at the end of one and a half, two years, we have the urgent need to recreate an ultra-efficient, attractive, spectacular national competition to maximize our domestic call for tenders (Editor's note: for rights TV) which will arrive in 2023, he explained according to comments reported by RMC.
While having, at the same time, the imperative need to be outperforming on the European scene over the same period since a reform of the UEFA will be implemented in 2024. We are fifth in the European ranking and the five first will have four qualifying places in the Champions League.
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"If we come out of the European Top 5, the French Championship will be in the second European division".
“If we come out of the European Top 5, the French Championship will definitely be in the European second division.
If in the short term we are not able to bring in new money to save ourselves, to bounce back, the French Championship will become the Slovenian Championship, with all the respect I have for our comrades in Ljubljana.
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Ligue 1 will increase to 18 clubs in 2023, a reform presented by the LFP as necessary to increase the competitiveness of our championship.
Vincent Labrune is also working on the creation of a commercial company, which would allow the League to enlist a financial partner capable of providing it with funds to replenish its finances.