Paris (AFP)
The closed camera in L1 and L2 until April 15, decreed Tuesday in the face of the spread of the new coronavirus, does not represent "a short-term risk for the sustainability" of the clubs, said Wednesday Jean-Marc Mickeler, the president of the DNCG.
"There are no short-term risks on the sustainability of the L1 and L2 clubs," said the boss of the French football financial gendarme, during a press briefing organized in Paris by the Professional Football League. (LFP).
"It is painful, it will cost money, but it is not likely, in the short term, to jeopardize the clubs," he continued.
The announcement of playing matches in stadiums empty of their spectators has created a wave of concern in the French sports environment, particularly related to the loss of revenue generated by ticketing.
"Unfortunately, clubs will take into account the impact of the decrease in revenue," confirmed Jean-Marc Mickeler.
Matchday revenue in L1 weighed 201.1 million euros out of a total of 2.564 billion euros over the 2018/19 season. Playing four days behind closed doors, as currently planned, therefore represents a shortfall of around EUR 21 million.
"The ministry asked us to assess the economic risks of the closed doors, the postponed matches, until the end of April. We will focus on it," said LFP president Nathalie Boy de la Tour .
"The economic risk, as for all the other sectors of activity, is important in the medium of football. On this, we are like all the sectors of activity, it is necessary to do with, in these new circumstances", a- she continued.
For the moment, the League has not asked the clubs to provision on this subject, nor raised the question of creating a fund, according to its director general Didier Quillot.
"We have not asked the clubs to fund. On the issue of a fund, we have not yet raised this issue. The first thing we do is ask the clubs and our financial management to consolidate the possible consequences in terms of + matchday revenue +. We will have to go back to the state, "he said.
© 2020 AFP