This Monday morning, the newspaper L’Equipe announced that Canal would not participate in the next call for tenders scheduled for October 17 concerning the broadcasting rights of Ligue 1 for the period 2024-2029. A decision quickly confirmed by the channel, which had the effect of a small bombshell. Without being a real surprise, given the more than loose links between the historic broadcaster of Ligue 1 and the Professional Football League (LFP).
It also took its time to publish a press release, this Monday at the end of the afternoon, to react to what amounts to a clear break. “The LFP took note this morning of the letter sent by Mr. Maxime Saada to Mr. Vincent Labrune. The LFP regrets the decision expressed by the Canal Group which it obviously never wanted.” Regrets followed by a certain bitterness: “Canal and its subscribers love French football as Mr. Saada’s letter reminds us and the League and the clubs have always considered Canal as a strategic partner. The assertions or insinuations contained in this letter are, moreover, particularly serious.”
The governing body of French professional football then details its position: “As necessary, the LFP specifies that all the parameters of the call for applications have been established in strict compliance with the rules of the sports code and the right to competition. The terms of this call for applications ensure maximum transparency to all candidates regarding the progress and integrity of the process, the LFP having no form of agreement with any actor whatsoever. Before concluding, as if to ratify this divorce: “The LFP finally regrets the process of publicly disclosing the terms of this letter, in order to harm the marketing process as well as the interests of the LFP and the clubs that make it up. »