Jérôme Rothen, former French national team midfielder and now a pundit for RMC Sport, was on the air with the sports media outlet this Thursday and participated in the discussion surrounding the postponement of the Lens/PSG match, which was approved by the Professional Football League (LFP) earlier in the day. While he understands Paris Saint-Germain’s request, he nevertheless delivered a pointed criticism. However, he also pointed out, perhaps unintentionally, that the decision made sense.
Rothen: “They are incapable of making sound decisions to enhance the appeal of our league.”
“We believed in it without really believing it, we did what we could. This petition wasn’t against PSG but against the League, for the good of French football. I’m not surprised, given the people who voted… I was really looking forward to this clash between Lens and PSG. In terms of its appeal, it was fantastic to experience… I understand PSG; it was legitimate to request the postponement.”
But what is the LFP’s goal? To protect the French league above all else, before talking about European prestige, the UEFA coefficient… They are incapable of making sound decisions to improve the attractiveness of our league. They’re all incompetent, the league is worthless, there’s no appeal, no suspense… so you just give in and please the European champions?
Rothen: “If PSG didn’t bring in so many UEFA points, I assure you, Mr. Labrune, we would be 8th.”
But it’s a good thing PSG is there, because they keep the league alive. If PSG didn’t bring in so many UEFA points, I assure you, Mr. Labrune, we would be 8th.
As we have already pointed out several times, it’s a shame to go to such extremes on this issue, which deserves a much more measured approach. It’s beneficial for PSG to be able to fully concentrate on their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool. They could have strengthened their squad further during the transfer window, but that would have created additional squad management issues throughout the year. It’s also perhaps better for French football that Paris doesn’t send a weakened team to Lens, with the feeling that the match is just a quick affair. It would almost be embarrassing, in fact, if the Parisians were to win, and that wasn’t impossible.
In any case, PSG could have received some support in Europe, and it’s not illogical that the LFP (French Professional Football League) made this choice, given the crucial importance of the UEFA coefficient for securing European qualification. This is essential for the league’s success. Rothen himself emphasizes that Paris is important for accumulating points. Isn’t it logical to help them? Not to mention that Strasbourg’s match against Brest has also been postponed, but that hasn’t prompted any comment.
How can you criticize the LFP for its lack of support for French football while simultaneously denigrating the sport itself? There’s no suspense, no appeal, and those involved in French football will surely appreciate Rothen’s publicity. Yet, the European competition is exciting, as is the title race. Interesting players have been recruited for Ligue 1 this season, and others are still emerging. Perhaps we should stop tearing everything down, as if other countries were perfect.
There was the COVID crisis and undoubtedly some poor decisions regarding TV rights, but that doesn’t mean everything is bad. Ligue 1 also deserves more attention from its major media outlets, which could do better than offering excessive criticism for a postponement that should help French football gain international recognition.
