These are two realities. Two emergencies. A sanitary, with an epidemic of Covid-19 which is still not under control. The other economic, with a large number of companies stopped and eager to take over. Professional sport is no exception to this antagonism. But these days, the sports entertainment industry – and particularly its figurehead, which is football – is on the verge of realizing that one of these realities, these emergencies is coming its way. And it's not the one she had in mind. The way in which finally folded, reluctantly, Thursday, April 30, the French Professional Football League testifies to this.
After the staggering effect of the start of containment measures, the leaders of professional sport, like other sectors of activity, quickly sought the means to revive their activities, highlighting the risks weighing on their companies and their jobs. In the current context, this economic emergency, without being denied, is asked to step aside in the face of public health priorities. French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu summed it up abruptly: the business of sport is not "Not a priority" when it comes to managing the conditions for leaving containment.
The talk was aimed primarily at the football industry. The other sports have, more or less quickly, drawn the curtain on the competitions in progress. The world of football thinks that it can be an exception and return to the pitch to finish the season. For weeks in Europe, its leaders have been leading the offensive in this direction.
Objective: to touch television rights
The objective is displayed: to receive television rights at all costs, amounts in the hundreds of millions of euros. Seeing this money fly away, which weighs heavily on budgets (on average 36% in French Ligue 1), would jeopardize certain clubs, therefore resolved to play in stadiums empty of spectators.
No championship in Europe has yet received the green light from the authorities to resume. The German clubs, which were the most advanced (they resumed training in early April) and hoped to be able to replay in camera from May 9, are still waiting. The fact that three Cologne players were announced positive at SARS-CoV-2 on Friday 1er may weigh heavily.
The reality of the epidemic and the constraints it imposes to preserve people's health is shattering the positions of football. After the Dutch League, the French League therefore ended up saying stop, taking into account the priorities decreed for deconfinement, on April 28, by the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe.
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