French Parliament adopts major reform on professional football governance, including salary cap and TV rights redistribution

Published Jul 22, 03:04 AM UTC

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The French Parliament has definitively adopted a major reform on the governance of professional sport, primarily targeting football. The Senate unanimously approved the bill on July 21, 2026, following the National Assembly's vote. Key measures include allowing sports federations to withdraw sub-delegation of public service from leagues in financial distress, enabling federations to create commercial companies to replace leagues like the LFP, and regulating TV rights redistribution with a maximum 1:3 ratio between best and least funded clubs. A salary cap for federation leaders and employees was retained, with a derogation procedure for key positions like the national team coach. The ban on multi-club ownership was dropped, but the DNCG financial watchdog received extended powers to oppose sales. The reform also includes anti-piracy measures and support for women's competitions. FFF President Philippe Diallo called the reform 'historic' and announced a fall meeting to launch a commercial company.

Source report

After the National Assembly, the Senate unanimously approved this Tuesday the reform on the governance of professional sport, which notably targets the world of football in France.

Parliament definitively adopted this Tuesday the reform on the governance of professional sport, which concerns several sports but primarily targets the "excesses" observed in recent years in the world of football. After the National Assembly on Monday, the Senate definitively approved, unanimously, the bill proposed by Senator Laurent Lafon (Union of Centrists).

The text, which notably aims to strengthen the role and power of sports federations, was submitted following a parliamentary mission on the financialization of professional football. In support of the text, Sports Minister Marina Ferrari committed to publishing the implementing decrees of the law "as soon as possible."

Will the LFP Soon Be Replaced by a Commercial Company?

Among the flagship measures, sports federations will notably be able to withdraw from leagues, after government approval, their "sub-delegation of public service" in the event of failure or serious financial difficulties. This provision directly targets football, which has been mired in a TV rights crisis for several years. The text aims to allow federations to create their own commercial company, responsible for the matter in place of current leagues like the LFP.

The redistribution of TV rights between clubs will also be regulated, with a maximum ratio of one to three between the best and least funded.

Salary Cap for Federations Retained, Multi-Club Ownership Ban Not Included

Parliamentarians also capped the salaries of federation leaders. The same principle applies to employees, though with a derogation procedure intended to align the remuneration of key positions, such as the coach of the French national football team, with the market.

However, contrary to what the National Assembly had adopted, the ban on multi-club ownership of a French club and a foreign club by the same owner—considered by many parliamentarians as a symptom of the excesses of "football business" and a challenge to sporting fairness—was not retained. However, parliamentarians granted extended powers to the DNCG (National Directorate of Management Control), the financial watchdog of football, which could choose to oppose a sale on this basis.

The text also includes certain measures to directly combat piracy or promote the growth and popularity of women's competitions. But regarding women's sport, "there is no guarantee of a viable and sustainable economic model," regretted Senator Fabien Gay (PCF).

A "Historic" Reform for Diallo

"This reform is historic for women's sport and for French football. It was necessary. It is now up to all actors in professional football, alongside the Federation, to build a framework of trust for the sporting and economic development of our L1 and L2 championships," emphasized Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation (FFF), who announced a meeting "in the fall" to launch the creation of a commercial company.

"The new law will not replace the management choices of professional sports leaders. We are offering them tools that they will need to fully utilize," pointed out Senator Laurent Lafon before the final vote.

C.C. with AFP

Source

Home Football - actualitésWestern

Original headline: Plafonnement des salaires, redistribution des droits TV, société commerciale... La grande réforme sur la gouvernance du sort professionnel définitiviement adoptée au Parlement

Original language: FR

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