Monaco – Lyon could be relocated to China
The return match between ASM and OL in Ligue 1 could take place in Shanghai next February.
In 2022, it may be that for the first time in history a Ligue 1 meeting could take place elsewhere than on French soil. The duel between Monaco and OL, on the 23rd day, is likely to be held in China next February.
This is what the Football League is working on and it seems that both clubs would be in favor of this revolutionary idea. The reason mentioned is the promotion of the championship abroad. In this post-Covid period and a few months after having hundreds of millions of euros due to the Mediapro flop, the LFP is trying by all means to make its product profitable. And its detour through the Middle Kingdom is part of this logic.
For information, the French championship is not very busy outside the borders. Where the English collect 1.4 billion euros per year, the Spaniards 710 M €, the Italians 200 M € and the Germans 180 M € for their respective leagues, the French only receive 73 M € annually. The contrast is striking.
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FIFA risks putting its veto
The date of the beginning of February was chosen because the schedule of matches will be somewhat lightened since the European Cup will then be at a standstill. Jean-Michel Aulas, president of Les Gones, reveled in advance, even if he stressed that certain conditions must be met. “Lately, on a lot of experienced trips in good conditions, he told the Team. Paqueta, each time, we bring it back in a private plane from Brazil and we have seen that, even if it is not perfect, it still allows you to recover and sleep. There, it is necessary that it is a private plane which takes the two teams in good conditions so that the recovery is possible. But in terms of interest, it is important to be able to play a great game there. We think it’s good. After that, the funding must come and the League has to find its place. “
It is therefore not a surprise that OL and Monaco validated the idea immediately. In addition, the Rhone club has Chinese shareholders at its head and it is certain that this relocation will be appreciated. As for Monaco, its president Dimitri Rybolovlev has commercial partners in this country.
Now, FIFA must give its approval for the project to be approved. It is not a given. In the past, international bodies had refused a similar idea on the part of the Spaniards. “Matches and competitions of international scope as well as national matches must be played on the territory of the association concerned,” FIFA stressed.