Daijiworld Media Network - Paris
Paris, May 18: While Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) march to the Champions League final brings a rare moment of pride for French football, it also casts a spotlight on the deepening crisis within the domestic game, as the Ligue 1 season concludes under financial clouds.
PSG, who had already secured their fourth consecutive Ligue 1 title, will chase a treble when they take on Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31, following the French Cup final next Saturday.
Despite France’s success at the international level two World Cups and two finals in the last seven editions French clubs have consistently underperformed in Europe. Should PSG win in London later this month, they would become only the second French club to lift the prestigious trophy, following Marseille’s triumph in 1993.
“We are lucky to have a French team in the final,” said Nice coach Franck Haise. “I am not a Paris supporter, my club is Nice, but I am eager to see Paris win. I am French, as I was when Marseille won in 1993.”
However, the domestic reality remains grim. Traditional powerhouses like Lyon are battling mounting debts, with ownership group Eagle Football, led by American John Textor, reporting liabilities of 540 million euros. Failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League has only worsened their financial woes, with threats of relegation and UEFA sanctions looming.
Meanwhile, uncertainty over Ligue 1’s TV rights deal adds to the instability. A last-minute agreement with streaming service DAZN offered just 400 million euros annually — a fraction of what the league hoped for. Compared to the Premier League’s 2.02 billion euros per season, France’s top-flight finds itself trailing far behind Europe’s elite.
The current DAZN deal is now expected to be scrapped early, with Ligue 1 planning to launch its own broadcasting channel. But without a stable revenue stream, most French clubs face an uncertain future.
Only PSG, backed by Qatari wealth, remain insulated from the turmoil. The gulf between them and their domestic rivals continues to widen — and with the Club World Cup in the USA on the horizon offering a $125 million prize pot, PSG’s dominance could soon reach even greater heights.
“We still want to compete with PSG,” said Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi. “They are years ahead, but our ambition remains.”
Yet for now, all eyes in France will be on Luis Enrique’s squad, hoping they bring European silverware home — and a glimmer of hope to a troubled footballing nation.