Vincent Labrune Addresses Ligue 1 TV Rights Dispute and Defends Leadership

The LFP president denies allegations of bias, highlights efforts to secure fair broadcasting deals, and offers to resign to facilitate Canal+ return.

Vincent Labrune, president of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), has denied accusations of being influenced by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, calling such claims baseless and defamatory.
Labrune revealed he offered to step down from his role if it would encourage Canal+ to return as a Ligue 1 broadcaster, but the network did not attribute their absence to his leadership.
The ongoing dispute stems from a 2020 decision by previous LFP leadership to award TV rights to Mediapro over Canal+, a move Labrune says caused lasting damage to relations with the network.
Labrune emphasized the financial contributions of beIN Sports, which provides significant funding for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 broadcasting, despite market challenges.
He expressed optimism about the future of French professional football, citing increased stadium attendance and new investments, while acknowledging the difficulties of his position.