(foto: Getty Images)
The French Football Federation will dismantle the LFP and launch a new Premier League-style league system starting in the 2026/27 season.
French football is set to undergo a radical transformation, as the French Football Federation (FFF) has announced plans to dissolve the current Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and replace it with a new commercial league body, closely inspired by the English Premier League model.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, FFF president Philippe Diallo revealed that the federation will launch a "French-style Premier League" with a target launch date of the 2026/27 season, aiming to boost competitiveness and revenue across Ligue 1.
A new era for Ligue 1
The reform would eliminate the LFP, the current governing body of French professional leagues, and instead establish a commercial entity made up of the 18 Ligue 1 clubs, each with equal voting rights and shareholder status. Unlike the current setup, this body would be directly tied to the FFF, giving clubs greater influence over the league's future.
"We want to create a commercial company of clubs (each with one vote), directly connected to the Federation," Diallo said. "It will handle both the marketing and the organization of competitions. It’s not just a replica of the Premier League — it’s a version that maintains the cultural and sporting specificities of France."
Unlike LFP Media, which currently handles media rights and broadcasting revenue, this new league body would take full control of the management, branding, and organization of the French top flight. A CEO, appointed and removable by the clubs, would lead operations — with no elected president, marking a sharp departure from current French sports governance traditions.
Root causes: financial instability and TV rights chaos
The reform comes as Ligue 1 faces a crisis of confidence, with dwindling broadcasting deals, financially troubled clubs, and an overall decline in competitiveness compared to the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and the Bundesliga.
One of the key motivations is the financial regulation overhaul, including plans to:
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Reform the DNCG (the French football financial watchdog)
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Limit squad sizes, currently unrestricted
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Regulate multi-club ownership models
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Ensure fairer revenue distribution among the 18 Ligue 1 clubs
Lyon — provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 and at risk of being excluded from European competition next season — has become a symbol of the league’s structural instability.
What happens next?
The reform package has already been approved by the FFF's executive committee, and the next season will be used to formalize the transition strategy. If all goes as planned, the “French Premier League” could begin in 2026/27, serving as the launchpad for a more stable, competitive, and internationally appealing Ligue 1.
"The message to the world is clear: we want to return to the top," said Diallo. "We’re taking bold steps to transform French football."