Established 1961 19 Sports Wednesday, April 1, 2020 French football stares at financial black hole, broadcasters to hold back payments

Several French clubs place their squads on partial unemployment

PARIS: The financial crisis facing football as a result Clubs will now have to absorb the shock of not of the coronavirus pandemic has been laid bare in receiving money for which they have budgeted, and France, where a decision to withhold payments due income from broadcasters is a huge portion of their as part of a broadcast deal for Ligue 1 matches is set revenue. Indeed, payments from television compa- to leave clubs reeling. nies amounted to 36 percent of total revenue for Canal Plus, the pay TV giant and long-time broad- Ligue 1 teams last season, by far their biggest caster of France’s top flight, stated its intention to source of income, according to the DNCG, French hold back a scheduled 110 million-euro ($121 million) football’s financial watchdog. A further 25 percent payment in a letter to the French league revealed by came from player sales, which are likely to be af- the country’s leading sports daily, L’Equipe. fected this year too. The money is in theory due this weekend and is “They have their problems and we have ours. the equivalent of 15 per- There needs to be a dia- cent of the total broadcast logue so we can find solu- money for the season in tions,” said a member of the Ligue 1. “In case of force board of the French league, majeure, when matches are the LFP. “I don’t think the no longer played, then pay- There are no decision by Canal Plus is ir- ments are suspended,” a reversible.” senior management figure more matches at Canal Plus told AFP. UNCERTAINTY “This is the perfect ex- L’Equipe has claimed ample of force majeure. that Paris Saint-Germain, There are no more the Qatar-owned giants matches, so there are no who dominate the French more payments. We are strictly applying the terms of game, stand to lose as much as 215 million euros be- the contract and we don’t see why we would do it any tween now and the end of June, assuming the worst- PARIS: File photo taken on June 05, 2019 shows French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet addresses other way. Canal Plus is not a bank.” case scenario in which no more games are played and delegates at the 69th FIFA Congress at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles in Paris. In view of the coronavirus pan- The French top flight is the fifth-richest league all projected gate receipts and Champions League demic, the president of the French Football Federation Noel Le Graet considers it is “not reasonable” to predict in Europe although its income lags some way be- revenues are also lost. a date for when the competitions will resume, he said in an interview with AFP on March 27, 2020. — AFP hind those of Italy’s Serie A, the German Bundesliga, Several French clubs, including Lyon and Marseille, Spain’s La Liga and, in particular, the English Pre- have placed their squads on partial unemployment to mier League. save money, a move that means they only pay 70 per- scheduled payment of 42 million euros. crisis, further payments due to clubs in June could also French clubs, like their counterparts across the cent of salaries with the state paying the rest, albeit French Football Federation president Noel Le be in doubt. It also remains to be seen how the current continent, have been hit hard by the health crisis which limited to 4,850 euros per employee. Graet called on all parties “to respect their commit- situation impacts on next season with the French had already forced matches to be postponed or The problems may deepen if beIN Sports, the ments, football first of all but the broadcasters too”, league having agreed their first broadcast deal worth played behind closed doors before UEFA suspended Qatari group which also holds domestic rights to in an interview with RTL radio. over one billion euros a year starting in 2020/21 with all club competitions in Europe a fortnight ago. broadcast Ligue 1, chooses to hold back its own However, with broadcasters also impacted by the Chinese-owned group Mediapro. — AFP

Sharma has been leading a team Sharma trying to keep people off the streets during a 21-day lockdown ordered by the government to halt the Documentary polices spread of the virus. India has now reported 29 deaths from more than ‘motivates’ England virus curfew 1,000 cases, but experts believe there are many more. Thousands of people have been ar- Root for Ashes NEW DELHI: Joginder Sharma rested across the country for flouting bowled the key final over when India the curfew. The ICC said Sharma had beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the first gone from World Cup hero to “real LONDON: England Test captain Joe Root has Twenty20 World Cup cricket final in world hero” as it released a picture of said watching the first few episodes of a doc- 2007, but says he faces more pres- the all-rounder in India cricket colours umentary about the Australian cricket team has sure as a police officer making sure and his khaki police uniform. been a “motivator” ahead of the 2021/22 Ashes people stay home during the coron- Sharma, who played just four one- Down Under. avirus crisis. day internationals and four T20 ‘The Test’ charts Australia’s progress from The International Cricket Council matches, said he is using cricket’s the low of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in (ICC) and others have hailed the ef- spirit of teamwork to tackle the crisis. South Africa through to the high of retaining forts of the 36-year-old as he hits the “It was the nature of my sport, which the Ashes in a drawn series in England last year streets of India in his role as an officer is a team game and players work to- after the hosts and eventual champions beat of the law. gether to make things happen. So now DURBAN: File photo taken on September 23, 2007, the then Indian cricket them in the World Cup semi-finals. “Obviously this contribution is we have to help each other and the team bowler Joginder Sharma (R) celebrates with teammates during semi- The largely well-received documentary has much bigger because people are los- biggest help will be to stay inside our final of the ICC World Twenty20 in Durban, 22 September 2007. Sharma, says also been accused of being a public relations ing their lives,” Sharma told AFP from homes,” said Sharma. he faces more pressure as a police officer making sure people stay home exercise given Cricket Australia had editorial Hisar in Haryana where he is now a su- “This is the only way to fight coro- during the curfew — AFP control. But with cricket suspended worldwide perintendent. “It was also a big thing, navirus. Feed the hungry, help the because of the coronavirus pandemic, Root winning the World Cup for India, but poor. Say no to social gatherings, go decided to take a look. here we have to save the nation. And out just for getting essentials, but and fame also come in handy as an of- me and that helps putting my point “Whilst we were away (on tour) I exhausted even if I am playing a small part in this, maintain social distance.” Sharma ficer on the beat. across. But now I am a police officer a lot of the shows that I wanted to watch, it’s then it is huge.” added that his “extreme fitness levels” “People know me and recognise and this is my duty.” —AFP come round to watching that now,” he told re- porters in a conference call on Monday. “It’s been a good motivator to get back and train, get back on the bike, use it as a way of member of the public before leaving on foot. “I just tirely unnecessary. It breached the government incentivising myself. “I’ve only got to the start want to do a quick video message to say how deeply guidelines which are clear and should be adhered Grealish apologizes, of the World Cup, so we’ll see how the rest of embarrassed I am about what has happened this to by everybody. it unfolds.” weekend,” Grealish said in a video posted on Twitter. “The player will be disciplined and fined with the for breaking Root, while acknowledging the importance “I obviously just got a call off a friend asking to go proceeds donated to The University Hospitals Charity of the World Test Championship, made clear an round to his and stupidly agreed to do so. I don’t want in Birmingham.” Less than 24 hours before the inci- Ashes series in Australia remains the acid test isolation rules anyone to make the same mistake that I did, so I urge dent, Grealish was part of a video appeal for people for an England cricketer. Under his leadership, everyone to stay home and follow the rules and to stay at home during the lockdown. England were beaten 4-0 in the 2017/18 Ashes. LONDON: Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish posted guidelines of what we are being asked to do.” “I hope everyone can accept my apology and we But Root said the threat posed by the likes a public apology on Monday for breaking UK gov- The British government has introduced restric- can move on from this,” added Grealish. “Hopefully in of fast bowler Mark Wood, man-of-the match ernment guidelines on social distancing as police tions on citizens leaving their homes only to shop for the near future we can all be out enjoying ourselves in the fourth Test victory against South Africa, opened an investigation into an incident in which a food and medicine, essential travel for work and one again.” In a statement about the incident, West Mid- added an “X-factor” to England’s attack. Range Rover crashed into parked cars. form of exercise a day to help halt the spread of lands Police added: “Officers are investigating the cir- “We’ve seen in South Africa that has played a Villa expressed their disappointment with Grealish coronavirus. cumstances and anyone with information has been part, it has found us a way to take 20 wickets and said the 24-year-old will be fined with the pro- “Aston Villa is deeply disappointed that one of asked to get in touch.” in foreign conditions.” ceeds going to a children’s hospital in Birmingham. our players ignored the government’s guidance on Grealish has been Villa’s star performer on their West Midlands Police said they were called on Sun- staying at home during the Coronavirus crisis,” Villa return to the Premier League this season and was ex- ‘HARDENED’ day to an address in Solihull, near Birmingham, where said in a statement. pected to earn a first call-up by England for friendlies Turning to top-order rising stars Dom the two parked cars suffered minor damage. “Club captain Jack Grealish has accepted that against Denmark and Italy this month prior to foot- Sibley and Ollie Pope, Root added: “If we The force said the driver had left his details with a his decision to leave his house was wrong and en- ball’s shutdown due to COVID-19. — AFP can keep putting experience into a number of the young batters as well, give them game time, then we’re starting to build a team that the game. He refused to lay out a back the conclusion of the inaugural has confidence, experience, is ready and Smith faces timetable for his departure, particu- Paine sees edition of the test championship. hardened for the challenges Australia will larly with the uncertainty created by Paine hoped it would not be pushed throw at us.” the COVID-19 shutdown, saying only back too far and said he thought play- England followed the drawn Ashes cam- competition that coach Justin Langer and selectors crowded ers would favour playing catch-up to paign with a 3-1 series win in South Africa knew of his plans. finish it as planned with a final be- only to see their tour of Sri Lanka abandoned for captaincy “I know what I’m thinking, in terms Test calendar tween the top two teams at Lord’s on before the first Test due to the coronavirus. of how far I can play on and we’re on June 10, 2021. “There are more important things to con- the same page,” he told reporters via “Maybe the players are going to cern ourselves with,” said Root, now a patron SYDNEY: A rising crop of young tal- video conference. Paine said he had SYDNEY: Australia captain Tim Paine have to go through a period where we of his local Sheffield Children’s Hospital. “But ent will compete with Steve Smith to not spoken with Smith about the cap- believes Test cricketers would be pre- play quite a bit of cricket if we want to from a cricketing point of view we were be Australia’s next captain, current taincy but the 30-year-old batsman pared to play a lot of matches in a short complete the test championship as it is,” preparing ourselves well for the two Test skipper Tim Paine said yesterday. would not be the only candidate for space of time once the coronavirus cri- the 35-year-old wicketkeeper said in a matches in Sri Lanka and we made big strides Smith captained the side before Paine the role. sis is over to ensure the World Test teleconference yesterday. in South Africa.” but was slapped with a two-year “We’ve got a number of guys to Championship can be completed as “I think the players are certainly en- Root, while acknowledging there would be leadership ban over his part in the ball choose from who can put their hand scheduled next year. joying that points system and the fact talks regarding leading players taking pay tampering scandal during a Test in up,” he said. “There’s Steve Smith, International cricket, like most other that every test match counts for some- cuts to help English cricket balance its books Cape Town in 2018. who’s done it before, or the people sports, has been shut down while the thing ... I think all players would be in at a time without fixtures, said “it’s not my The ban expired this week, who are developing underneath like a world battles the pandemic and Paine favour of trying to finish that any way area of expertise”. But he added the prospect prompting renewed speculation that Travis Head or an Alex Carey — said it did not take “Einstein” to con- we can.” Paine reiterated that winning of the 2020 season being abandoned com- Smith could soon resume the leader- Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cum- clude that Australia’s tour of Bangladesh the championship was a big goal for his pletely had “definitely crossed my mind”. “It ship duties. While 35-year-old Paine mins are other ones. “We’re starting would probably not go ahead in June. team, who are currently second in the might be that my wife has to start giving me has acknowledged he is in the twilight to build some real depth so that when With other tours also on hold, it has standings behind India. The Indians are some throw-downs in the back garden but of his career, the wicketkeeper said he my time’s up we’ve got a number of been suggested that the International scheduled to play four tests in Australia until things become that drastic it will be sim- was not yet ready to walk away from options.” — AFP Cricket Council might need to push at the end of the year. — Reuters ply sit tight and wait,” said Root. —AFP