The threat hovered for months. The professional football league (LFP) has decided to "suspend" next season the organization of the Coupe de la Ligue, competition between professional clubs French since 1994, she said Wednesday, September 18.

Release of the Professional Football League about the @LigueBKT Cup ➡ https://t.co/zbK16L3VjT pic.twitter.com/hm0FSRctdz

Professional Football League (@LFPen) September 18, 2019

"This decision will lighten the competition schedule, give players more recovery time and offer an extra place in European cups via the Ligue 1 standings at the end of the 2020-2021 season. ", says the LFP, faced with a lack of interest from television broadcasters.

This development, initially unveiled by the French daily L'Équipe, comes as the call for tenders for TV rights over the period 2020-24 proved unsuccessful last December.

"Not a suppression but a suspension"

The audiovisual groups Canal + and France Télévisions, the two current broadcasters, pay nearly 24 million euros a year to broadcast this national competition unpopular with leading clubs and spectators.

"Depending on market conditions, the LFP reserves the right to restart this competition later," says the governing body of professional football in France. "It's not a suppression but a suspension", insists the League.

The Coupe de la Ligue, of which Strasbourg is the current holder, is a competition reserved for teams enjoying professional status, unlike the venerable Coupe de France, open to all licensed clubs of the French Football Federation.

With AFP