The long-awaited reform of French football governance has hit another roadblock, as the bill that would dissolve the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and replace it with a club-controlled company remains stuck in legislative limbo. Initially scheduled for debate in the National Assembly on May 18, the bill was postponed to make way for the military programming law, and has yet to be rescheduled—even as other texts are slated for discussion before the end of June. The delay has fueled anxiety across the professional game, with clubs and league officials warning of significant financial repercussions.
At the heart of the concern is an amendment that would redirect the revenue from sports betting currently channeled to the LFP toward the French Football Federation (FFF). Under the existing structure, the LFP receives a portion of the national sports betting tax, worth approximately €12 million per season. This money helps fund club operations, youth development, and the league's overall competitiveness. The proposed shift would strip clubs of a vital income stream at a time when many are still recovering from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising operational costs.
The bill itself, which passed the Senate a year ago, aims to overhaul the governance of French football by dismantling the LFP—a joint entity representing the interests of the state, the federation, and the professional clubs—and handing full control to a "company of clubs." This new structure would allow the clubs to govern their own commercial and broadcasting affairs with greater autonomy, theoretically streamlining decision-making and boosting revenues. However, the text has been heavily amended since its Senate passage, creating a maze of competing interests and unintended consequences.
One of the most controversial additions is the betting revenue clause. While the original intent was to consolidate power among the professional clubs, the amendment risks weakening them financially by funneling money toward the FFF’s broader amateur and grassroots missions. Critics argue that removing €12 million annually from the professional pyramid would undermine the league's ability to attract and retain talent, invest in infrastructure, and compete with Europe's other top leagues. For smaller Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs operating on thin margins, such a loss could be devastating.
The legislative gridlock is largely due to the government's prioritization of the military programming law, a comprehensive defense spending bill that has consumed the Assembly’s agenda. While understandable from a national security standpoint, the football community sees the repeated failure to schedule the governance reform as a sign of political indifference. “This bill has been ready for over a year, yet it keeps getting pushed back,” a source close to the LFP was quoted as saying. “Every delay creates more uncertainty for clubs trying to plan their futures.”
Beyond the financial concerns, the reform also includes measures to combat online piracy of football broadcasts, a key priority for rights holders. However, the anti-piracy provisions are tied to the broader governance package, meaning that until the bill is voted on, enforcement mechanisms remain in limbo. This adds another layer of frustration for broadcasters and clubs that lose millions to illegal streaming each season.
Political observers note that the composition of the Assembly and the busy legislative calendar could prolong the wait. With the June schedule already packed with other texts, and the summer recess looming, it is increasingly likely that the bill will not be debated until the autumn session at the earliest. That would extend the period of uncertainty to nearly two years since the Senate vote, raising questions about the political will to push through a reform that deeply divides stakeholders.
The debate also touches on the broader relationship between the state and professional sport in France. The government currently holds a stake in the LFP through the FFF, but the proposed restructuring would reduce public oversight—a shift that some lawmakers are uneasy about. Conversely, many clubs feel that the state’s involvement has become overly bureaucratic and stifles commercial growth. The deadlock reflects a deeper ideological struggle over who should control the beautiful game’s purse strings.
As the waiting game continues, clubs are being forced to budget without clarity on a major revenue line. For a league that already lags behind England, Spain, and Germany in broadcast rights deals, the threat of a €12 million annual cut is particularly galling. Some club presidents have privately warned that they may need to offload key players or delay stadium projects if the bill passes with the betting revenue amendment intact. The LFP has reportedly lobbied hard to have the clause removed, but with the bill stuck in committee, there is no immediate path forward.
In the meantime, the professional game watches nervously. The reform was supposed to be a catalyst for modernization and competitiveness, but instead it has become a source of division and distress. Until the National Assembly finds time to address it, French football will remain in a holding pattern—with clubs hoping that logic prevails and the punitive revenue transfer is scrapped. Based on reporting from L'Equipe.