Sports Minister says French Government shouldn't fund Euro 2016 stadia

By David Gold

January 27 – French Sports Minister David Douillet (pictured) has suggested that the French Government should not have to spend money on stadia to be used during the European Championships in 2016 and that any renovation or construction costs should be met with Ligue 1 television revenues.

New stadia are being built in Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux and Nice for the championships, which will be the first to involve 24 teams.

The Stade Velodrome in Marseille, Saint-Etienne’s Geoffroy Guichard, the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse and Lens’ Félix Bollaert will all be renovated.

Douillet’s predecessor Chantal Jouanno last year announced that €10 million (£8.5 million/$13 million) would be available for the renovation of Paris Saint-Germain’s Parc des Princes.

“Logically, the state should not have to contribute to the construction or renovation of stadia,” Douillet said while speaking at the French National Library.

“The sums received [from television revenue] are almost €600 million (£501 million/$788 million) a year.

“This should be reinvested in renovation and construction…it might be necessary to create a law obliging clubs to do this.”

A total of €158 million (£132 million/$207 million) over four years had been set aside by the National Centre of Sports Development (CNDS) for renovation and construction of the 11 stadia set to stage games during Euro 2016.

Toulouse’s Deputy Mayor, François Briançon, responded by saying: “The state should keep its word.

“I hope that Douillet’s words do not represent a volte-face by the state to abandon their help to local communities,” he added.

Douillet’s comments have added significance after the announcement that Qatari state broadcaster Al Jazeera has been awarded the final package of rights to show Ligue 1 football from 2012-16 for an estimated €60 million (£50 million/$79 million) per season.

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