Football: “Ligue 2 finds itself somewhat trapped by this unfavourable programming”, believes a sports economist

Ligue 2 broadcaster beIN Sports has decided to schedule Ligue 2 matches mainly on Fridays, sparking anger among supporters.

“Ligue 2 finds itself somewhat trapped by this unfavourable programming,” estimates Christophe Lepetit, sports economist at the Center for Sports Law and Economics at the University of Limoges, on franceinfo, Tuesday August 20, the day after the match between FC Metz and SC Bastia was interrupted. Supporters disrupted the match by throwing hundreds of tennis balls onto the pitch at the Saint-Symphorien stadium in Metz. Some unfurled banners reading “Football is on the weekend”, “beIN Sports kills the atmosphere” And “beIN Sports is destroying grassroots football”. Slogans that directly target the new broadcaster of the championship.

For Christophe Lepetit, “We can understand that Ligue 2 fans prefer to have matches scheduled at the weekend, particularly on Saturday at the end of the day or on Sunday, rather than on Friday evening since this is a time that is not conducive for fans to go to the stadium”. But the sports economist says that the “modalities” used by angry supporters “are not the right ones”. Indeed, “damaging equipment or risking sanctioning your club, particularly FC Metz which is already subject to several sanctions, is a bit counterproductive,” he continues.

The new broadcaster has changed the schedule of Ligue 2 matches because it has “many other sports rights to exploit” and wanted “to avoid a form of traffic jams by having Ligue 2 confronted with other rights, such as European competitions, which are broadcast on Saturday and/or Sunday”, according to Christophe Lepetit.

It is also “a somewhat collateral consequence of the negotiation for the rights of Ligue 1 which was delayed”adds the sports economist. He calls on supporters to “find the right way to make this anger heard and start discussions with the LFP and with beIN Sports”even if “It will inevitably be a bit complicated.”

“We must try to find a solution, a way out of this difficulty, because it is in everyone’s interest for Ligue 2 to be well exposed,” the specialist believes. According to him, it is important that “beIN Sports can contribute financially, through the rights it pays to the LFP, but also promote the championship to have a better quality product and competition.”