Vincent Labrune was surely hoping for a cooler start to his mandate at the head of ola LFP.

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FRANCK FIFE / AFP

If he wanted to come to quiet power, he had to choose another institution.

President of the LFP for only a few weeks, Vincent Labrune is already facing an XXL crisis.

The Ligue 1 broadcaster, Mediapro, having refused to pay its October 5 deadline with the ambition of renegotiating the price of TV rights.

"The timing of this announcement is surprising for the month when we know that it comes only a few weeks after the payment of a first installment which was announced with a lot of communication to give credibility to the Téléfoot project and its sustainability ... A minima, we will say that this taints the relationship of trust, ”says Vincent Labrune in the columns of the Team. 

More problematic: "in substance, this raises questions about the overall Mediapro project in France and the capacity of this group to meet its contractual and financial obligations", continues the former president of the OM.

To cope with the lack of non-payment, Labrune and the LFP are considering taking out a large bank loan to relieve the clubs.

So what ?

So we wait to see the rest.

But Labrune is already preparing its arguments against Mediapro, which asks that the contract be revised downwards.

“Make no mistake: it is not audible to hear that these drafts were to be paid for by subscriptions.

Even a record number of subscribers at the end of September would in no case have allowed to pay a quarter of the bill [...] The shareholders (a Chinese group called Orient Hontai Capital) could not ignore the financing needs of the plan of activity of Mediapro.

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In short, the next few weeks promise to be hectic.

And French football will have to tighten its elbows and the belt for a little while.

“If I were not worried about the finances of our clubs, I would be irresponsible, concludes Labrune.

We are working hard to be able to pay the amounts budgeted by our clubs on the due date.

They can count on us.

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Sport

TV rights in French football: will Mediapro cause an industrial disaster in Ligue 1 clubs?

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