Stop L1, "an error" for Mediapro, "worried" about the climate of French football - France 24

Paris (AFP)

To stop definitively the Championship of France was a "strategic error", regretted Tuesday the boss of Mediapro, future broadcaster of Ligue 1, saying "worried" faced with the lack of "unity" of French football, a "problem to be solved "for the upcoming partnership.

"For the first time there was a strategic agreement between the major leagues and UEFA to end the season. For us, breaking this alliance was a strategic error. We expressed this position during several meetings and after the League and the government have taken the decision "to stop the season," launched Jaume Roures when announcing the name of his future channel, dubbed "Telefoot" in partnership with TF1.

According to the Catalan leader, stopping the season permanently against the coronavirus was not desirable.

"It meant losing around 300 million euros", which "can cause clubs to make transfers that could affect the quality of the competition next season. And it is logical that we are not happy if it happens, "said Roures.

He said he was "by the side" of Jean-Michel Aulas, the president of Lyon who is calling for the takeover. "Basically, from my point of view, he is right," said Jaume Roures.

At the time of the final cessation of the season, several club presidents had however indicated as a priority to "secure" the 2020-2021 season, that of the arrival of Mediapro with a record television rights contract of 1.217 billion euros annual in total.

The boss of Mediapro has finally pinpointed the cacophony that has accompanied the last few months, calling on the League to improve its governance in view of the arrival of the Sino-Spanish group on the French market.

"I am worried. You have not seen several presidents in Spain, England or Germany, say contradictory things. And these are leagues that have restarted or will do so. This unity is very important (...) I believe that it is a problem which we must solve, especially on the side of the League, in relation to our relations and the work which we must develop during the next seasons ", he slipped.

© 2020 AFP