France to cap national team coach salary at €450,000; Zidane appointment may need special approval

Hupu Football News — July 16

French media L'Equipe's renowned journalist Etienne Moatti has provided an update on Zinedine Zidane's coaching situation.

After 14 years at the helm, Didier Deschamps will step down as head coach of the French national team this Saturday evening. The successor is almost a foregone conclusion: Zinedine Zidane will finally agree to end his comfortable retirement and return to football. But what will his contract terms look like?

Since the initial contact between the French Football Federation, the 54-year-old coach, and his team, a law on "governance of professional sports" has been on the agenda. This bill not only restructures the professional football league into "club companies" but also addresses numerous issues, including the compensation of senior executives and employees of sports federations.

Key Development: Salary Cap Imposed

On July 8, a joint committee of the Senate and the National Assembly decided to set an annual salary cap of 450,000 euros (before tax), aligning with the compensation limit for the "chairman of the board of directors of an industrial and commercial public institution." However, salaries can exceed this cap with special approval from the Ministry of Sports.

After the committee reached a consensus, the bill still needs to be formally passed in plenary sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate (expected on July 20 and 21), followed by immediate publication in the Official Journal.

Implications for Zidane

• If Zidane has not yet signed with the French Football Federation (the federation declined to comment), the signing would require approval from Marina Ferrari, the Minister of Sports, Youth, and Community Life.
• Unless Zidane agrees to accept a salary roughly one-tenth of Deschamps' — which seems unlikely.
• Theoretically, the French Football Federation could sign the contract in the coming days, before the bill takes effect, to circumvent oversight from higher authorities. However, such a move would inevitably be misunderstood and could be seen as a power grab.

Minister's Position

Ferrari stated in an interview with France 2 on Wednesday morning that Zidane is the "right person" for the French national team. However, she remained cautious.

"Keep in mind," she continued, "it is not the role of the Sports Minister to decide on the coach."

Yet, by approving an exemption for Zidane (or anyone else), she effectively plays a role in the appointment of the coach and some of his assistants (whose total annual salaries would also exceed 450,000 euros).

Concerns Over Political Interference

Many observers are surprised by this regulation, as it grants the ministry the power to decide whether to accept or reject a coach by approving or denying exemptions.

This situation mirrors cases in some countries (often criticized) where political circles directly interfere in national team affairs. FIFA, an organization committed to combating political interference in football, is not pleased with this.

Source: L'Equipe

Posted in Shanghai | Reads: 931