Reims (AFP)

The hypothesis of a massive global loan of French football from investment funds, to overcome the coronavirus crisis, does not appeal to everyone: it is the "most extreme case", said Jean-Pierre Caillot , president of Reims, at AFP on Friday.

"Some colleagues, like (Gérard) Lopez de Lille and (Loïc) Féry de Lorient, finance specialists, are looking at how to get out of a disaster in terms of TV rights (frozen by Canal and beIN Sports, Editor's note) , for this season or the next, "says Jean-Pierre Caillot.

"It is our duty as a leader to study all possibilities" but this idea is part of "the most extreme case," continued the member of the Bureau of the Professional Football League (LFP), meeting Friday by videoconference.

The idea was emitted by the president of Lille, Gérard Lopez, during an interview granted to the newspaper L'Équipe, Tuesday, concerning the possibility for clubs to contract a loan of 300 to 500 M EUR from funds investment.

But Caillot considers that priority should be given to loans guaranteed by the State. "Like any business, clubs can take out a loan which represents three months of turnover with their bank which will be guaranteed up to 90% by the State. This loan, relatively easy to obtain, will make it possible to pledge on the clubs' treasury, "detailed the Rémois president to AFP.

The leader also highlighted the wage agreement reached on Tuesday by the social dialogue working group set up by the LFP, of which he is one of the representatives.

"Faced with a crisis, everyone must take responsibility and this dialogue was conducted with responsible people who understood that we were talking about their jobs. This agreement still needs to be validated by the public authorities, but we are optimistic. When we will have recovered the receipts related to the matches and the TV rights, one will give to the players what they did not touch ", he assured.

As for the payment of TV rights to the LFP, suspended by beIN Sports and Canal +, "it is a real problem", he said. "Since there is no match, it is not illogical that broadcasters do not pay. But we are talking about EUR 66 million in matches which have already been carried out and which the clubs must reach quickly. who is owed must be paid, "concluded the president of Champagne.

© 2020 AFP