France: LFP sets 2016-17 budget of €850m, including €815m from TV rights (+ €151m than 2015-16)

"The 2016-17 budget of the LFP will be €850m, with an increase from TV rights (Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and Coupe de la Ligue) which will amount to €815m, €151m more compared to 2015-16 (23% increase), which will also increase, in proportion, the amounts redistributed to clubs," stated the LFP on 14/04/2016. The 2016-17 season marks the entry into force of the new cycle of audiovisual contracts.

Following the new agreement between the two professional clubs unions, the Premiere Ligue (most Ligue 1 clubs) and the UCPF (generally, Ligue 2 clubs), the board of the LFP has affirmed the establishment of promotion/relegation play-offs at the end of the 2016-17 season between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. From 2016-17, There will be only two automatic relegations from Ligue 1 (places 19 and 20 of the 20 team table), while the team that finishes in 18^th place in Ligue 1 will now contest a two-legged play-off against the 3^rd place from Ligue 2.

The decision for the new promotion/relegation system between Ligue 2 and the National (French third division) will be reviewed by the Federal Assembly of the FFF on…