French Football is facing a potential cash crisis after upstart broadcaster MediaPro announced that they could no longer afford to pay the deal for the television rights it agreed to in 2018.

The record-breaking, 1 billion euros promised to pay to televise French football matches each year represented an increase of 60% on the league’s previous television deal – a deal much more than any other bidder had offered that ensured the financial safety of Ligue 1 and 2 clubs.

Despite internal fears that the deal was "too good to be true", the Ligue de Football Professionnel have now ended the partnership with the broadcaster, handing back the four years of rights under its control – with only around third of the 300 million euros it owes for games this season.

This has now left French football needing a new television partner to sure up the expected funds before the end of the season, which in turn leaves teams fighting for their financial future.

A general consensus is now understood: most French teams now need to restructure, starting with the sale of players when the January transfer window opens next month.

The collapse of the deal, coupled with the continuing financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic — was “hugely damaging” according to one Ligue 1 owner, cited by the New York Times, with the expected money coming in having already encouraged clubs to splash the cash in recent windows gone by.

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Téléfoot, Mediapro’s subscription service, will continue to broadcast games until a replacement is found – but after having agreed to pay €3.25bn over four years, Mediapro have only paid less than 10% of that figure over just four months.

The LFP and French clubs are surviving due to a pair of government-backed bank loans. Canal Plus are currently negotiating to take over the television rights, but they intend to offer a sum far below €700m per season – less than they paid before the arrival of Mediapro – meaning the financial crisis is deepened even further.

Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot speaking earlier this month, said the situation was deeply concerning for French football: “When you don’t have any TV rights money, ticketing money or hospitality money, you’ll have to explain to me how we are supposed to keep our business running. If the league cannot get a new loan, which is far from assured at this point, I think that in February or March, there will be a lot of clubs who will not be able to pay their players and employees. Because we often forget that a football club is not just 11 players.”

With no money secured from broadcasters as of yet, plenty of French clubs are now expected to cash in on their star talent in the upcoming January and Summer transfer windows to keep themselves afloat in increasing economic uncertainty.

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