French football: an "extremely worrying" financial situation (J-M Mickeler, DNCG control body)

"The financial situation of French football is extremely worrying because it is structurally in deficit," explains Jean-Marc Mickeler, president of the DNCG (French financial control body of professional football), in the French sports daily L'Équipe on 24/12/2020.

"In their initial budget, the clubs had estimated their losses at €250m at the end of the 2020-21 season. In fact, they will probably be closer to €800m in Ligue 1," added Jean-Marc Mickeler.

"I am rather optimistic for the future of French professional football, but on condition that we go through real changes," stated Nicolas Blanc, president of the consulting firm Sport Value, to News Tank Football on 21/12/2020.

"Without a drastic reduction in the wage bill, there is no sustainability of the current model. A reduction in the wage bill of 30% would make it possible to return to a form of economic equilibrium," said Jean-Marc Mickeler.

"Some clubs have more than 50 professionals under contract. This doesn't make sense when there are only 11 players on the field" (J-M Mickeler, DNCG)

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