Ligue 1 TV rights/DAZN dispute: LFP "activates its reserve fund" to pay clubs

"The board of directors of the Ligue de Football Professionnel has unanimously decided to activate its reserve fund without waiting for the decision of the Paris Economic Activities Court regarding the ongoing dispute with DAZN," announced the LFP on 17/02/2025.

"This decision was made possible thanks to the support of CVC and the exceptional decision taken earlier this morning at the LFP Media general assembly to release the necessary sums on an exceptional basis by drawing on its reserve fund. Thanks to this measure, the clubs will receive, at the end of the week, the sums they were entitled to expect, enabling them to meet their cash flow requirements," explained the French league, which will thus be paying out €35m to the clubs.

DAZN, which holds the domestic TV rights to eight (out of 9) live games per matchday in Ligue 1 over the 2024-2029 cycle for an average of €400m per year, has only paid 50% of its February instalment (i.e. €35m gross out of €70m) for these rights. The platform has placed the remaining €35m "in escrow" pending an agreement with the LFP.

The court order…