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SportsFrench Assembly passes salary cap bill that could block Zidane from coaching Les Bleus
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The French National Assembly passed in first reading a bill on the governance of professional sport, including an amendment capping salaries for executives and employees of sports federations at approximately 12,000 euros gross monthly (140,000 euros annually). This measure could directly affect the next coach of the French national football team, Les Bleus. Zinedine Zidane is the overwhelming favorite to succeed Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup. Deputy Karl Olive and an anonymous source expressed concern that the cap would make it impossible to attract top talent like Zidane, noting that FIFA's average remuneration is between 500,000 and 800,000 euros per year. The bill is not yet final and requires further readings before promulgation.
Source report
French deputies adopted a bill on the governance of professional sports this Monday in first reading. Among the amendments passed is a salary cap for executives and employees of bodies such as the French Football Federation (FFF) — a decision that could directly affect the next coach of the French national team.
After 14 years at the helm of Les Bleus, Didier Deschamps will step down following the 2026 World Cup. While Deschamps has not announced his future plans beyond intending to continue coaching, Zinédine Zidane is the overwhelming favorite to succeed him. Officially, nothing is set in stone, but nothing seemed able to prevent an arrival that fans insistently demand — except, perhaps, a law passed in the National Assembly.
Amendment Caps Federation Executive Pay
As part of the bill on the governance of sports, deputies voted in first reading an amendment fixing the remuneration of federation executives at approximately €12,000 gross per month. This moderation measure was extended in the hemicycle to cover "employees" of these bodies.
"Difficult to Attract the Best Profiles"
Karl Olive, a voluntary member of the LFP board of directors and deputy for Yvelines, did not participate in the vote to avoid a possible conflict of interest. However, before the adoption of the bill, the former mayor of Poissy raised the Zidane case and the risk of talent drain from French sports bodies.
"As was pointed out earlier, it seems difficult to attract the best profiles to lead our sports institutions by limiting the cap applicable to the remuneration of executives of the delegated federation to three social security ceilings," Olive said during debates at the Assembly, according to session minutes. "Or to recruit the best coach for the French Football Federation, for example Zinédine Zidane, when the average remuneration of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is between €500,000 and €800,000 per year."
A source close to the matter, speaking anonymously, expressed concern to AFP about such a cap, which is far removed from rates in the football world and, according to them, risks blocking the arrival of talent in the coach's position.
Bill Not Yet Final
Zinédine Zidane — or any other coach succeeding Didier Deschamps on the Blues' bench — would therefore face a salary capped at €12,000 per month, or €140,000 gross annually, if the amendment voted this Monday is included in the bill as promulgated in the Official Journal.
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French Parliament Raises Salary Cap to Enable Zinedine Zidane as National Coach