In a stunning turn of events, a rebellion has erupted in French football over a controversial sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority. The uprising, led by powerhouse clubs Lyon and Marseille, has exposed the delicate balance of power in Ligue 1 and the league’s growing dependence on Qatari investment.
The Qatari Influence in French Football
The influence of Qatar in French football has been steadily growing since the Gulf state’s takeover of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2011. The hundreds of millions invested in star players has propelled PSG to dominate domestically, capturing 23 of the 33 major trophies on offer since 2012-13.
However, PSG’s success has come at a cost for the rest of Ligue 1. According to a senior club executive who spoke on condition of anonymity:
“Without PSG, we can’t survive. But we can’t live with them either.”
This sentiment reflects the paradoxical situation many French clubs find themselves in. On one hand, the Qatari-owned broadcaster beIN Sports has been a lifeline, paying above-market rates for Ligue 1’s domestic TV rights. On the other, PSG’s hegemony has made the league largely uncompetitive.
The Visit Qatar Controversy
The flashpoint for the current rebellion is a €16.4m deal struck between the French football league (LFP) and the Qatar Tourism Authority. In exchange for the money, to be shared equally among Ligue 1’s 18 clubs, teams would display “Visit Qatar” branding on their shirts.
While initially agreeing to the arrangement, Lyon and Marseille have now revolted. Lyon labeled the deal “incompetent” and “null and void,” while Marseille vowed not to let Qatar “tarnish their jersey.” The deal was meant to sweeten beIN Sports’ cut-price bid for TV rights, after the league failed to secure its desired €1bn per season for the 2024-29 cycle.
A Desperate Situation for Smaller Clubs
For smaller clubs, however, rejecting Qatari money is not an option. With TV revenue plummeting and many facing potential financial ruin, they cannot afford to bite the hand that feeds. As one Ligue 1 chairman put it:
“The LFP is run by and for the big guys, those who get their money from taking part in European competitions, not us.”
This divide between the haves and have-nots in French football has rarely been starker. While Lyon and Marseille can afford to take a stand, others are left with little choice but to accept whatever scraps are thrown their way.
An Uneasy Status Quo
Some have suggested that the rebellion is less about principle and more about the equal distribution of the Qatar Tourism Authority funds. Larger clubs had previously benefited disproportionately from a €1.5bn deal with CVC Partners, and there are rumblings of discontent at this perceived leveling of the playing field.
For Marseille, the issue is more visceral. The very idea of promoting anything related to their bitter rivals PSG’s owners is anathema to their supporters. A solution will need to be found quickly, as beIN Sports is now threatening to withhold the €80m it owes the LFP.
Ultimately, this crisis has laid bare the precarious foundations upon which French football is built. Clubs are caught between the Scylla of financial oblivion and the Charybdis of Qatari dependence. As one executive succinctly summarized:
“In the end, in French football, it is still Qatar which holds the cards that matter.”
How this uneasy status quo will be maintained, or if it can survive this unprecedented challenge, remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the balance of power in French football is not as stable as it once appeared.
