Eight Ligue 1 clubs ‘at risk of declaring bankruptcy’ before new season including Champions League team

A number of Ligue One clubs have been plagued by financial problems, reports claim.

As many as eight clubs in Ligue One are reportedly in danger of declaring bankruptcy ahead of the new season, reports claim.

The new campaign kicks off on the weekend commencing 16 August but there has not yet been an agreement for a new broadcaster to take the reins.

Previously, LFP boss Vincent Labrune was said to be looking for around £1 billion per season.

Talks with companies took place but The Athletic reported in October that there was not a single bid for the two primary live domestic packages over the five-year cycle between 2025 and 2029.

DAZN and beIN Sports were touted as potential suitors but neither could agree a deal.

Instead, as per reports in France, LFP were exploring the option of teaming up with Bouygues, SFR, and Orange and creating a new TV channel.

The price of the rights are said to have been halved but there has still been no movement.

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Kylian Mbappe has followed Neymar and Lionel Messi out of the league and the lack of rights are having a direct impact on clubs in the top flight.

According to L’Equipe, Auxerre, Lens, Nantes, Stade Reims, Montpellier, Brest, Le Havre and Angers are all at risk of going bankrupt because of the shortage of funds.

Lens were in the Champions League last term, while Brest qualified for the Europe’s premier club competition after finishing third last season.

The situation with rights has been a complicated one, starting with when they were sold to Spanish broadcaster Mediapro in 2018.

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Canal+ had been the long-time home of Ligue One before then and Mediapro’s contract was terminated in 2020 due to financial problems.

The company are not in the mix for the rights going forward following legal wrangles with beIN Sports.

They were unsuccessful in their appeal to get out of a sub-licensing deal with beIN – which belongs to PSG’s owners QSI.