Ligue 1 must review its economic model, according to the DNCG. - PASCAL PAVANI / AFP

An overhaul of the economic model of French football clubs is "inevitable", said on Wednesday the president of the DNCG, the financial gendarme of the League, Jean-Marc Mickeler, pleading for it to be "less dependent on transfers and rights TV ”.

The health crisis linked to the coronavirus pandemic not only led to the definitive end of the 2019-2020 season in Ligue 1 but caused, economically, around "200 million euros in operating losses" over the past four months as well as an additional loss "of the order of 200 million euros in respect of transfers", explained Jean-Marc Mickeler in an interview with the newspaper Les Echos .

Football clubs request an economic "stimulus plan" from the State via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/jVwdqfCZnx

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) June 2, 2020

“In the end, the health crisis could consume almost a quarter of club capital. The DNCG called from year to year to strengthen them. If there has indeed been an overall increase, it is concentrated on a limited number of clubs. Given the uncertainties they face, the overhaul of the economic model of clubs is inevitable, "said the boss of the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) of the Professional Football League.

In a survey published in May, Mediapart had reproduced an estimate showing a “colossal net deficit of 541 million euros” expected for L1 training on June 30. The LFP had reacted by explaining that the loan of 224.5 million euros contracted to relieve short-term treasuries of French professional clubs did not involve "any financial risk".

"Building stronger football"

According to Mickeler, "without proactive action, the viability of a large number of clubs could then be called into question". “I observe a shared awareness when we interact individually with club presidents. But I am not convinced that the essential overhaul of the model is today at the heart of their debates, ”he continued in Les Echos .

"The objective is to build a stronger football, therefore economically healthy, that is to say less dependent on transfers and TV rights," he insisted, mentioning several avenues of reflection, in particular on "a cap on payroll and / or on the number of players under contract ”.

“Despite the increase in TV rights, the DNCG will not endorse budgets that are in reality artificial. It would be a failure for French professional football if the clubs acted as if nothing had happened, "he insisted.

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