DAZN could withhold Ligue 1 TV rights payment as conflict remains unresolved | OneFootball

According to a report from L’Équipe, the stalemate between the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and DAZN looks likely to be unresolved ahead of tomorrow’s deadline as French football lurches towards crisis.

The LFP and Ligue 1’s main domestic broadcaster have been in conflict since February when DAZN withheld payment of €35 million to the top-flight clubs. DAZN believe that the LFP have not protected their investment into French football and accuse the league of not doing enough to combat piracy and alleges that certain Ligue 1 sides have not participated in terms of content.

A mediator was hired to resolve the differences between the two parties, with L’Équipe writing that DAZN claims €573 million from the LFP “for observed breaches” and “deception of the merchandise.” However, as of the 31st of March, there was no resolution between the two parties.

The mediation was extended until the end of last week and then again to the 15th of April, but it looks unlikely that anything will change before tomorrow with DAZN and the LFP’s positions wide apart.

The French outlet states that four proposals have been made (two from each side). The LFP has drawn up one which would see an early termination of their contract with the British broadcaster. DAZN, under these terms, would have to pay and broadcast until the end of the current financial year, and then it could end the contract by paying the league compensation (at a lower rate than what it would have had to pay if it continued under the current terms) for the next financial year.

The other option the league has suggested would see the current deal continue by postponing the current exit clause (dated for December 20205) until the end of next season if DAZN are unable to meet the threshold of the 1.5 million subscribers it needs to break even by December. The league would agree to this by offering a small reduction in the amount DAZN needs to pay for the rights to broadcast the league.

DAZN has alternatively proposed an agreement to leave its contract at the end of the season by paying the final two instalments of the season but then not paying much compensation for the future. Their second option would see them continuing the deal with the LFP but changing their current contract.

Ligue 1’s main broadcaster has also explored the idea of buying out beIN Sports’ contract and thereby being the only broadcaster in France. These are the terms that it originally wanted when it first contacted the league in 2023.

However, neither of the sides are willing to accept the other’s proposals, and L’Équipe warns that if an agreement has not been reached by the end of tomorrow, then DAZN will likely withhold its final two financial instalments. The league could attempt to recover this money through the financial guarantees of DAZN’s parent company, Access Industries. Yet, this will be time-consuming and would be the subject of a court battle.

GFFN | Nick Hartland