In a landmark move, the French Football Federation (FFF) has unveiled plans to adopt a Premier League-style finance model, initiating sweeping changes in the way French football is governed and funded. The bold restructuring aims to increase revenue generation, improve financial stability, and elevate Ligue 1’s global competitiveness.

FFF president Philippe Diallo announced the proposal as part of a broader French football governance reform effort, which includes dissolving the current LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) and replacing it with a club-owned football league, similar to England’s Premier League.

 
LFP Replacement Plan and Financial Restructuring

The LFP replacement plan would establish an autonomous league structure run and majority-owned by the clubs themselves. The move is designed to create a more dynamic commercial model, much like the Premier League’s club-driven approach.

As part of this transformation, LFP Media restructuring is expected, with negotiations underway to secure better broadcasting and streaming rights. Existing partnerships, such as the one with CVC Capital Partners, are being re-evaluated to optimize long-term growth and reduce reliance on external funding.

 
Governance and Revenue at the Core

At the heart of the reform is a proposed professional sports governance bill in France, which will be submitted to the legislature later this year. The bill will formalize the changes and ensure French football financial oversight mechanisms are in place to avoid past mismanagement issues.

The new model also seeks to address concerns around the French clubs ownership structure, particularly how revenue is distributed between top and lower-tier teams, to support French football competitive balance.

 
A New Era for Ligue 1

This shift reflects a broader desire by French football leaders to emulate the French football revenue model success seen in the English Premier League, which has become the gold standard for profitability, global appeal, and club autonomy.

If passed, this reform could usher in a new era for Ligue 1—boosting investments, strengthening clubs’ independence, and transforming the business side of French football.

 
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