LFP suffers fresh blow in attempts to seek Ligue 1 broadcasting deal

The LFP has suffered a fresh blow in their attempt to sell the Ligue 1 broadcasting rights for 2024 until 2029 after the chairman of Canal+ confirmed that the channel will not negotiate with the league. 

Canal+ has reaffirmed its stance that it will not negotiate for the domestic broadcasting rights for Ligue 1 after the channel was rumoured to be a possible partner in a deal with beIN Sports. However, as the chairman of Canal+, Maxime Saada explained in an interview with Le Figaro , this could not be further from the truth. 

Saada stated, “ In Ligue 1, there is a rumour every day. One thing is certain, this one is completely wrong. We did not participate in the call for tenders. We do not participate in the current discussions. We do not have an agreement with DAZN or beIN sports .” 

It appears as if there is more than just lingering resentment from the past conflicts with the LFP , with Saada expressing that the broadcaster would not be there to bail the organisation out by “ buying Ligue 1 from the scrapheap… I want to be very clear on this point: Canal+ will not be the gravedigger of French football .” 

This ill-feeling represents a significant issue for the LFP and a closed avenue in their long search for a buyer for the broadcasting rights of France’s top division. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland