Faced with the surge in contaminations in recent days, the executive announced several measures on Monday, some of which will again affect French professional sport: from Monday and for three weeks, "large gatherings will be limited to a gauge of 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people outdoors, ”Castex said on Monday.
In addition, the refreshments will have to close with the ban on "the consumption of drink and food in all cinemas, theaters, sports facilities and public transport", announced by the Prime Minister.
These two measures risk damaging the revenues of basketball, handball, volleyball, rugby and football clubs, already hard hit since the start of the health crisis.
The Scottish Championship football match between Heart of Midlothian and Ross County, in Edinburgh, was held in an empty stadium on December 26, 2021 ANDY BUCHANAN AFP
"The bad surprise is that with the return of gauges, it is a drop in revenue, worries the president of Metz (D1 female handball), Thierry Weizman. This decreases revenue by 50%, from 4.000 spectators normally, we will go to 2000. Plus the impact on the refreshments, on the VIP services that we will not be able to afford because it is very complicated (the standing service is stopped), that's annoying . "
The men's handball championship will be spared him since the Starligue will not resume before February to make way for the Euro, from January 13 to 30 in Hungary and Slovakia. But two preparatory matches for the France team are affected: one on January 7 against Egypt in Chambéry then two days later against Norway in Paris-Bercy, whose capacity had already been reduced, before the introduction of the gauges, to 16,000 spectators because of the Covid-19.
"The communion with the public for our return from the Games unfortunately falls apart, it's frustrating, reacted the vice-captain of the Blues Luka Karabatic on Tuesday in videoconference. We are only half surprised, we saw it Come on. As we are coming out of a long period of closed-door play, I try to console myself by telling myself that, despite everything, 2,000 is not nothing. "
Support for clubs to compensate?
On the other hand, French rugby, which does not relax, is worried about the economic impact of these new restrictions: "Rugby is a convivial sport whose resources, more than 60% on average, are linked to the presence of the public and partners during matches, notes the director general of the LNR, Emmanuel Eschalier. New support for clubs will therefore be essential to (...) compensate. "
The empty stands of the Pierre Fabre stadium in Castres during the Top 14 meeting between Castres and Agen on January 9, 2021 Fred SCHEIBER AFP / Archives
"As the Prime Minister indicated, additional aid will be studied to alleviate the restrictions imposed. The ministry has already allocated 107 million euros in 2020 and 100 million EUR in 2021 to compensate for loss of ticketing," said the Ministry of Sports to AFP.
A gesture which Stade Brestois, resident of Ligue 1, "hopes" to benefit again, to "help pass the wave, because it is starting to be difficult financially", recalled the general manager of the Breton club Pascal Robert.
In autumn 2020, the EUR 107 million envelope had benefited more football (EUR 48 million) and rugby (EUR 40 million) than handball, basketball and volleyball (EUR 4 million), which generate less revenue. .
Conversely, the president of the Strasbourg basketball club, Martial Bellon, welcomes the new restrictions with pragmatism: "We escape behind closed doors (...) It is not a satisfactory situation but I believe that it is necessary stay reasonable. "
"Huge shortfall"
Regarding football, the situation is particularly frustrating for Vannes OC (National 2, fourth echelon), an amateur club which hoped to fill its stadium by hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Monday (9:10 p.m.) in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France.
"The shortfall is enormous, regrets the president of the club, Maxime Ray. For security reasons we had to neutralize a platform of 2,600 places for the only supporters of the PSG (...) which was to bring back 100,000 euros (and) will ultimately bring only 5,000. More than 2,000 other places have been neutralized because of the new gauges. The shortfall is there also of 50,000 euros without counting the receptions (refreshment bar and VIP tent) which will not take place and which will also cost 50,000 euros. "
"One in two seats, that had a real meaning", regretted the director general of RC Strasbourg Alain Plet, criticizing "a gauge of 5,000 rather incomprehensible".
Still in the Coupe de France, Lens, which is to receive Lille on Tuesday, had "asked his future opponent" and the Federation (FFF) to advance the meeting "to Sunday January 2", to escape the application of the gauge .
"Impossible", replied the president of Losc Olivier Létang Tuesday, to the site l'Equipe.fr.
© 2021 AFP