the Coupe de France will have to lower its allocations to the clubs competing in the competition

While Toulouse has just lifted the French Football Cup, for the first time in 66 years, the next edition of this competition is already looming. The smaller clubs will even begin their adventure in the coming weeks, on May 21 in Île-de-France. Yet this year, due to declining TV rights, there will be less money at stake.

The French Football Federation (FFF) has warned that it will drastically review its staffing scale “following the reduction of the competition’s TV rights”. These go from 21 million per year paid by broadcasters (plus €2.5 million in international broadcasting rights) to approximately €12 million per year (plus €4 million internationally), i.e. a total reduction ofand more than 30%. This will inevitably have consequences for amateur clubs.

This is the case of AF Vire, in Normandy, which reached the 32nd final of the Coupe de France this year with 52,500 euros at stake: the endowment of 30,000 euros to which are added 22,500 euros for participation in the 7th and 8th rounds. “These aids allow a club to structure itself over the long term.explains its president Christophe Lécuyer. We were able to make a slight surplus, without which we would most likely have been in deficit.” If AF Vire takes the same course next season and if the drop in prize money is around 30%, this could represent a shortfall of more than 15,000 euros. It’s a significant sum, even for a club that is moving up to National 2, the fourth French division.

Professional clubs could make a move

Professional football could therefore put its hand in its pocket, receive smaller sums from the Coupe de France. The idea is on the table and it seduces Philippe Montanier, the coach of Toulouse, winner of the Coupe de France this year. “We all come from football amateurhe believes. So if the whole of professional football decides to make a move, inevitably, we will not be opposed to it, quite the contrary. Toulouse received just over 2 million euros for its journey this season out of the 11.9 million redistributed by the FFF to all clubs. From now on, there will be “only” 7 million euros left to share.