Joseph Oughourlian: French Football’s Rights Crisis Stems from "Fundamental Problem"
Joseph Oughourlian, the 53-year-old president of Ligue 1 club Racing Club de Lens and seasoned businessman, has expressed grave concerns about the ongoing crisis surrounding the television rights of French football. In an interview published by Le Parisien, Oughourlian candidly criticized the handling of rights by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).
"Fundamental Problem" in Rights Management
Oughourlian pinpointed a "fundamental problem" in the constant turnover of broadcasters over the past six years. He argued that this fragmentation has alienated viewers, leading to a decline in subscriptions for pay-TV football. He placed the responsibility for this on the LFP and its president, Vincent Labrune.
Oughourlian described DAZN’s failure as a "worse error" than that of Mediapro, the broadcaster that defaulted in 2020. DAZN has not paid the full amount of its €70 million installment to the LFP, leading to a legal dispute that is expected to be resolved on February 28.
Lost Consumer Base and Financial Woes
Oughourlian emphasized the loss of consumers due to the constant changes in broadcasters. He estimated that Canal+ had lost between 2 and 3 million subscribers who subscribed primarily for football. Amazon attracted around 1.2 to 1.3 million viewers for football, while DAZN reportedly has fewer than 500,000 subscribers.
He criticized clubs for prioritizing short-term financial gains over long-term industry stability. He stated, "One does not need to be an economic genius to understand that if you have a product and want to sell it, you do not constantly change distributors."
Governance Issues at the LFP
Oughourlian also pointed to governance issues within the LFP. He alleged that a small group of club presidents, typically the wealthiest and those close to Labrune, are privy to confidential information, leaving the majority of clubs uninformed.
He predicted a bleak future for French professional football, stating, "The worst is yet to come."
Solutions Proposed
To address the crisis, Oughourlian proposed "sacrificing short-term financial gains" in favor of long-term sustainability. He suggested two options: creating a dedicated LFP channel or returning to "serious partners" such as Canal+.
Ligue’s Response
In response, Vincent Labrune’s entourage dismissed Oughourlian’s criticism as "political." They argued that in 2024, the choice of broadcaster was between DAZN and no one, as Canal+ had withdrawn.
The entourage also rejected Labrune’s responsibility for the crisis, stating that a majority of Ligue 1 clubs voted in favor of DAZN. They accused Oughourlian of "political maneuvering."
Battle Lines Drawn
The interview has ignited a war of words between Oughourlian and the LFP leadership. The LFP has vowed to respond forcefully to Oughourlian’s comments.
The crisis in French football’s television rights is far from over, and the battle lines have been drawn between Oughourlian and the LFP. The future of the sport’s financial health hangs in the balance.
