Rebellion Over Visit Qatar Shirt Deal Sparks Power Struggle in Ligue 1

In French football, there's a saying: "Without PSG, we can’t survive. But we can’t live with them either." For many clubs in the French Ligue 1 , this translates directly to Qatar. Ever since Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) took control of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2011, they've completely changed the face of the league. While PSG has become a dominant force, winning 23 out of 33 major trophies since 2012, their Qatari backers haven’t just reshaped the league in terms of trophies. Qatar has kept many clubs afloat through its media network, beIN Sports, paying premium prices for Ligue 1 TV rights. But now, something is starting to crack in this relationship.

Lyon and Marseille Say No to Visit Qatar Deal

Two of France’s biggest clubs, Olympique Lyon and Marseille, are fighting back against Qatar’s influence. The French League (LFP) recently agreed to a €16.4 million deal with the Qatar Tourism Authority, which would split the money equally among Ligue 1’s 18 clubs. The catch? Every club has to promote the "Visit Qatar" brand in return.

It may sound like easy money (€730,000 per club) but both Lyon and Marseille are refusing to take it. Lyon’s American owner John Textor slammed the deal, calling it "a violation of (their) rights" and rejecting the partnership as "null and void."

For Marseille FC , it’s more about pride. The club has a long-standing rivalry with PSG, and anything associated with Qatar is seen as an insult. Marseille’s fans are famously passionate, and promoting anything tied to PSG’s owners would be a huge no-go for them.

The TV Rights Disaster Behind the Rebellion

At first glance, rejecting €730,000 per club might seem extreme, especially in a league where many teams are struggling financially. But the deeper issue lies in the TV rights crisis that has rocked French football in recent years.

LFP had a disastrous TV deal collapse in 2020 when Mediapro, a Spanish company, couldn’t honor its €1 billion-a-year deal for broadcasting rights. This left Ligue 1 scrambling to find new partners. The current deal with Amazon Prime and beIN Sports is only a fraction of what was originally promised.

Even worse, Canal+, once the league’s biggest partner, now pays more for UEFA competitions than they do for Ligue 1 games , a situation that one TV rights expert called “insane.” This puts many Ligue 1 clubs in a tough spot. A lot of them depend on TV revenue for more than half their income, and with 70% of that going straight to player wages, the financial strain is real.

Why Lyon and Marseille Are Pushing Back

So why are Lyon and Marseille making such a fuss about the Visit Qatar deal? For Lyon, the issue is about fairness. They’re frustrated that the Qatar Tourism Authority money is being shared equally among clubs, even though they believe some clubs, like PSG, are already favored by other deals. For example, a previous €1.5 billion deal with private equity firm CVC Partners heavily benefited PSG and clubs with strong UEFA rankings.

For Marseille, it’s more personal. Their rivalry with PSG is legendary, and the idea of promoting anything tied to Qatar is unthinkable. Their fan base, already hostile to PSG’s Qatari owners, would never accept the club endorsing the "Visit Qatar" brand.

The Bigger Picture: Qatar’s Grip on French Football

The rebellion has already had real consequences. In response to the unrest, beIN Sports has reportedly withheld an €80 million payment it owes to the LFP. This could push the league into an even bigger financial crisis. But at the heart of it all is a bigger question: who really controls the fate of Ligue 1?

For years, clubs outside the top tier have relied on money from Qatar to survive. But as the financial challenges mount and the TV rights crisis deepens, it’s becoming clear that the balance of power in French football rests firmly in Qatar’s hands.

The revolt led by Lyon and Marseille is the clearest sign yet that the relationship between the LFP, the clubs, and Qatar is growing more complicated. For some, Qatar's money is the lifeline they can’t afford to lose. For others, like Lyon and Marseille, it’s a sign that French football is losing its soul.

What’s Next?

The future of Ligue 1 could depend on how this power struggle plays out. The financial problems facing French football aren’t going away anytime soon, and with Qatar holding such a strong influence, it’s hard to see how the league moves forward without their backing.

But one thing is clear: clubs like Lyon and Marseille are no longer willing to simply accept whatever deal is put on the table, especially if it means promoting the same Qatar-backed empire that powers their biggest rival, PSG.

In the end, it’s still Qatar calling the shots in Ligue 1. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on who you ask.