Paris (AFP)

Covid requires, the General Assembly of the French Football Federation voted on Friday a provisional budget 2021-2022 in deficit of 5.7 million euros "for the first time in more than 20 years", according to its treasurer.

The GA voted a budget deficit forecast, "marked by the consequences of two unprecedented crises by their magnitude", explained the treasurer, Philippe Diallo, "the health crisis linked to Covid 19 and the crisis linked to the failure of the main broadcaster professional competitions, Mediapro ".

The planned resources amount to 244.2 M EUR, the expenditure to 253.6 M EUR, for a deficit of 9.4 M EUR, which the FFF reduces to 5.7 M EUR taking into account a profit at the end of the year. 'Euro.

In the European Championship, the planned expenditure (11.3 M EUR) is lower than the UEFA allocation (15 M EUR) and allows to generate a profit of 3.7 M EUR.

On a sporting level, the "3F" budgeted for the quarter-finals at Euro for the A and at the Games for the Hopes, and 3rd place in the League of Nations, "cautious budgetary assumptions", explained Mr. Diallo .

For the crowds, the Federation hopes that the France team will be able to play in front of a 25% gauge until December and in front of a normal crowd from the second half of the season.

The treasurer specified that aid to amateur football would be maintained at the same level, ie 33.4 M EUR promised to Leagues and Districts, almost as in 2020-2021 (33.2 M EUR).

- "The year has been difficult" -

The GA did not deal in depth with the change in format of Ligue 1, from 20 to 18 clubs, voted the day before by the general assembly of the Professional Football League (LFP), which impacts National 1 (3rd division), because the reform is scheduled for 2023-2024 and will impact the 2022-2023 season.

"We will have plenty of time to study the consequences on our championships", explained the legal director, Jean Lapeyre, referring to "the next winter GA".

He also wanted to draw "attention to the Soviet-style score" (97.28%) of the LFP's vote for this reform, "it is an excellent thing that professional football is so united on issues. equally important, "said Lapeyre.

The president, Noël Le Graët, also "appreciated the unanimous agreement of pro football, which was not so simple".

Playing "at 18 was not in everyone's interest".

In conclusion of the GA, he recalled that "the year has been difficult, you have all felt it", but "football will restart", assured the president.

"I ask all officials to be optimistic," he continued, because "we have a strong duty: to bring kids back to the stadium as quickly as possible".

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