Paris (AFP)

"Priority to health rather than money": the president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët returned to the end of the competitions, the plan to help amateurs and the return of the public to the stadiums, during an interview granted to AFP on Friday.

Q: Was the 30 million euro support plan for amateur football, announced on Thursday, motivated by the fear of a massacre among the clubs?

Noël Le Graë: "No. Every week we meet with the league presidents. We can see that the clubs are rather in a hurry to resume. The Federation will balance its accounts this year despite the lack of matches (Les Bleus We pay a total of 300 million over three years (to the amateur world), it is not nothing ".

Q: Do the four matches of the Blues originally scheduled for March and June lead to dead losses?

A: "No, these are matches that will be recovered. Not all, but two or three will be recovered next season. With UEFA, we have a contract of 40 matches over 4 years. We can make 12 matches one year and 8 another, at the limit. For the moment, we are not late. The only question is public or not public. You can imagine that personally I am for it. will not put economic pressure on anyone for football, we will always take into account the medical advice of the government. "

Q: Could the Coupe de France final between Paris and Saint-Etienne be played this summer in front of supporters, even with a limited gauge?

A: "Of course, that is what we are going to ask. It is my wish anyway. We have contacts with the State. They may be able to allow us to speak of gauge either for the start of championship, that is to say for Cup matches. We are in constant conversation, with advances that seem positive to me. "

Q: The League raised the possibility of friendlies in July. Does that not relaunch the debate on a resumption of the 2019-2020 season, as in the other major European championships?

A: "What debate? We are disciplined in relation to the state. There is no debate possible. Our players will be better prepared and perhaps even in better shape than the others, we will see. in any case I have never challenged the decisions taken by the State. Priority to health rather than money ".

Q: The amateur support plan was activated in mid-April. Why not reveal it only at the beginning of June?

A: "We can always make promises in February and after having no money. I now know what we are going to have on June and what I can get out. I know what I will have for next year on condition that there are matches of the French team with the public ".

Q: The French Rugby Federation preferred to stop the levies (licenses, insurance, etc.) for the end of the season and the following ...

A: "Yes, it is practically the same thing. They will have less contributions and less fees. But I will not compare. We have just done three years with large sums for amateurs, without borrowing, without whining and working "The tip of the hat I have to give is to our sponsors. We did not lose one during this dramatic period. They represent 40% of our budget. Everything is paid, everything is in order."

Q: The suspension of horse racing hit your sponsor PMU. Was there a risk of disengagement on their part?

A: "I found an agreement with Mr. (Cyril) Linette (general manager of the group, editor's note) last week. They pay all of what is due for the current season and all of next year ".

Q: Have you assessed the losses on the Federation side?

A: "If you only talk about losses, you can say that we lost four matches of the France team, that's about ten million. On the other hand, there are no fees and we has slowed down certain operations. I have put a system in place so that at the end of June we present a budget close to balance. And on the 2020-2021 forecast, we think that the matches of the French team will take place with the public. We are four games behind. If we can make two minimums during the season, I'm pretty happy. "

Interview by Jérémy TALBOT.

© 2020 AFP