A proposal to broadcast a free Ligue 1 match every weekend is back on the table as the National Assembly examines a broader football reform bill this Monday. After multiple delays, lawmakers will debate the draft law that includes an amendment requiring one weekly Ligue 1 game to be shown on free television channels.

A game-changer for French football visibility

Currently, accessing Ligue 1 matches requires a subscription to Ligue1+, priced from €15 per month. With roughly one million subscribers, the platform remains a premium offering in a landscape where sports broadcasting fragmentation pushes fans toward illegal streaming. Proponents of the amendment argue this model excludes casual fans and fuels piracy. They propose that every broadcast rights negotiation should include a mandatory free-to-air slot: one Ligue 1 match per week. This initiative stems from a 2021 parliamentary report by Deputy Cédric Roussel, which highlighted the need to democratize access to top-tier football.

Will Ligue 1 matches soon be free to watch weekly?

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Sport economist Pierre Rondeau points to a vast untapped audience: “Two years ago, the LFP estimated 22 million French people follow Ligue 1.” Only one million subscribe to Ligue1+. Opening a free broadcast window could attract millions more viewers who currently turn to illegal streams.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) opposes the amendment, warning that free broadcasts could depress the value of TV rights—currently over 50% of club revenues. Intense lobbying from broadcasters and the LFP has intensified ahead of Monday’s vote.

The draft law, already approved by the Senate last year and by the Assembly’s committee in May (where the amendment was added), faces further scrutiny. After Monday’s session, it may still be revised by the joint committee (CMP) on July 21. The proposal covers multiple areas: combating piracy, strengthening federations’ and the Sports Ministry’s roles in professional league governance, capped broadcasting revenue redistribution, and executive pay limits. Attempts to reach LFP representatives and club presidents for comment were unsuccessful.