As part of a broader legislative effort passed by the Senate last Tuesday to reform French football, a specific proposal aims to reduce the financial gap in how television broadcast rights revenue is distributed. This aspect of the bill is currently a source of significant tension between the wealthiest clubs and those with fewer resources within the French game.
If the bill is approved by the National Assembly, following its passage in the Senate, income from TV rights would be shared more fairly than under the current system. While Paris Saint-Germain is expected to remain the highest earner, the bill is designed to substantially narrow the financial difference by allocating a larger share to smaller clubs in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.
Some of the bigger clubs are reportedly unhappy with this proposed change and have attempted to lobby senators to oppose the new measure. Three amendments put forward to alter the original bill have all been rejected.
This proposed shift in TV revenue distribution is now the primary point of conflict between the large and small clubs in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo has also faced criticism from clubs. Some club presidents reportedly believe that Diallo is the driving force behind this initiative for more equal sharing of TV income, potentially leveraging his connections with certain senators.
