As usual, Christophe Dugarry does not mince words. The world champion 98 has decided to push again to support Amiens and Toulouse, relegated clubs from Ligue 1 to Ligue 2 who request their reinstatement with the Council of State. He thus defends the idea of a championship with 22 clubs, while scratching the French leaders.
Why speak out and defend the cause of Amiens and Toulouse?
CHRISTOPHE DUGARRY. It would have been other clubs, I would have done the same. It would be showing solidarity to compete in a Ligue 1 championship with 22 clubs. Leaders would stop looking at their navels as they do too often. Unfortunately, it is everyone for their apple, many think only of their own interests.
You therefore call on everyone's common sense to avoid Ligue 1 descents ...
And I think the same for Ligue 2. In an exceptional situation, an exceptional decision for a season. There are no schedule issues for dragging additional matches. It is just a financial problem because some people do not want to share the cake at 22, it will necessarily be smaller than at 20. An error has been made in deciding that there are drops in amateur football. Our leaders found themselves stuck, forced to relegate to the pros. This is why President Le Graët opposed the vote of a large majority of clubs for a League 2 to 22. The Federation has a right of veto but Mr. Le Graët, is it the king? Afterwards, I hear voices saying to me: it was not he who voted . Except that from the time that League 2 to 22 was voted in the League, he hinted that it would not happen. And his whole court went in his direction. It's scandalous!
Wouldn't there be a risk to the players' health by adding additional matches?
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Adding four more games is not going to change much. Besides, I am convinced that if we did a survey today of players to save Amiens and Toulouse, 90% of them would be ready to accept it. They would show solidarity when the leaders are unable to do so.
The Council of State, which will issue its decision on Monday or Tuesday, has asked for additional information. Is it reason for hope even if a turnaround seems difficult to imagine?
I want to be optimistic. I tell myself that there will be an awareness after a while. There are the players but also other employees in a club. In difficult times, the priority is to avoid having fewer possible victims. Unfortunately, by keeping a championship at 20, they are more numerous. However, there will be additional TV rights, it will not run out of money.
Do you think, like Jean-Michel Aulas, president of OL, that the decision to stop the championship was too hasty?
Mr. Aulas defends his club. It is sometimes ridiculous but he does it with his heart. I have a lot of respect for him because he is the source of what his club has become but how often has he changed his mind? He wanted a white season and then agreed with the President of Nice to resume the championship in September ... One thing is certain, the government's decision was taken too early. But the leaders only had to stop eating their mouths from the start, that's the situation today. It is no coincidence that we are perhaps the only championship that will not resume. When we see how our bodies work, it is to die of laughter.
You also campaign for the improvement of amateur football…
Amateur football has to take charge. But the problem today is the Federation voting system. Until each of the 14,000 clubs can vote, like in rugby, nothing will change. It is not up to League presidents or District presidents to vote for them. These are the barons of the president who is in place. Everything is padlocked.
Precisely, what do you think of the initiative of Luis Fernandez, who wants to constitute an opposition list and find a candidate for the FFF?
It's very good, I want football to return to footballers. Why do clubs that work well abroad, like Bayern Munich or Juve, always have former great players as leaders? With us, we have bankers, guys who do communication, guys with a lot of diplomas coming. These people explain to us how to make football as in Bordeaux with Thiodet (director of commercial strategy who would be on the start) and Longuépée (president), two artists. Result: the stadium has never been so empty, the results are catastrophic ... Football is simple and that's what Luis, who did not ask me, wants to highlight through his initiative.
To hear you, you do not find yourself at all in today's football ...
How do you want to find your way? I have my heart club (Bordeaux) which is wasting away. I watch Ligue 1 games and we get bored more and more. And then there is this trading today in football, with investment funds that are there to make 15% profitability. My football is hurting.
Why not get involved?
This is not the life I want to have. I am 48 years old, a family, passions, my way of seeing things. Let the leaders who are in place do their job well. If someone calls me to ask for advice, OK. There, I push my last rants. In a month, you will not hear from me (he will leave his position as RMC star consultant), it will be just fine.