Ligue 1 TV rights: "The commitments made must be kept" (Jean-Michel Aulas, FFF)

"We need to guarantee the viability of our football's economic model and restore the confidence of broadcasters. This will require constructive dialogue with all stakeholders: current broadcasters, market players and, why not, innovative solutions to enhance the value of our championship. In the short term, we need clarity: the commitments made must be kept. We expect DAZN to honour its contractual obligations despite the procedures under way," said Jean-Michel Aulas, president of the LFFP and vice-president of the FFF, to the French daily Le Figaro on 16/02/2025.

DAZN, which holds the live broadcasting rights in France to eight live Ligue 1 McDonald's games per matchday for €400m per year over the 2024-2029 cycle, has only paid 50% of its February instalment (i.e. €35m gross of €70m) for these rights. The platform has placed the remaining €35m "in escrow" pending an agreement with the LFP.

Noting DAZN's "unfounded refusal to honour its financial commitments" the LFP has "decided to refer the matter to the interim relief judge in order to obtain, as a matter of urgency, an order that…