"When you are abandoned by your main client, there is a danger of cataclysm" (L. Fery, FC Lorient)

"We must not forget that the clubs support an entire local economy and continue to pay their employees. We, our obligations, we face them. But when we are abandoned by our main client (Mediapro), there is a danger of cataclysm. And it is not creating a catastrophe to say this out loud," said Loïc Fery, president of FC Lorient (Ligue 1 Uber Eats), in the French sports daily L'Equipe on 30/10/2020.

French professional football is currently experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis. The Ligue 1 Uber Eats and Ligue 2 BKT matches will all be played 100% behind closed doors for the next four weeks at least, having previously taken place at best with small capacities (1,000 or 5,000 fans, depending on the stadium) since the start of the 2020-21 season. Ticket revenues, when they exist, are therefore in free fall, while the summer transfer market has not allowed clubs to achieve the expected sales of players. To all this must be added the non-payment by Mediapro, the main domestic broadcaster of the two championships, whose second installment of an amount estimated at around €145m was…