Ligue 1: "Losing a place in the Champions League would be tragic and shameful" (F. Thiriez, LFP)

"If Russia (6^th place in the current UEFA coefficient rankings) remains ahead of us, we will lose a place in the Champions League. It would be tragic and shameful for France," said Frederic Thiriez, president of the LFP (French Professional Football League) on 09/05/2014.

"Like it or not, we are undergoing the sporting consequences of our economic weakness. As they keep selling their players, our clubs are no longer as competitive, even against very average teams," added Frédéric Thiriez in L'Équipe on 05/09/2014.

The president of Ligue 1 also suggests to the government, "a pact of liability applied to football," he explained. "The new Minister of Economy (Emmanuel Macron) makes business competitiveness a priority. Clubs are businesses." And, more specifically, Frederic Thiriez called for "a reduction in taxes. [Which] are unbearable compared to our competitors."

"At the level of European competition, the situation is absurd, as we are being overtaken by Portugal, Russia, Ukraine... We are running with a weight of ten kilograms hanging from each leg. We can not continue like this…