Nice Premium: Why this initiative from the representative bodies at the grassroots? What are the stakes?
Eric Borghini: For 16 years, an association of district presidents, of which I am a part, the ANPDF (National Association of District Football Presidents), has been formed. It aims, alongside official bodies, to reflect on the main problems in football and to be a source of proposals or even reactions. This was the case on Saturday, September 11th. The congress did not admit that the only “politician” to have suffered the consequences of the events in South Africa was Jean-Pierre ESCALETTES.
Treated ignominiously, even if his responsibility is evident, consigned to oblivion, which is an injustice, with no regard for his 50 years of activism for the benefit of football, even though he was the founder of the Amateur Football League (LFA), the founder of the FAFA (Amateur Football Assistance Fund), which has redistributed over 80 million euros to the amateur world and local authorities to date, the congress considered that the political responsibility for the crisis during the World Cup could only be collective. This is why it requested the dismissal of the Federal Council. This was the sense of the motion adopted unanimously by the General Assembly of the Côte d’Azur District as early as July 3, 2010.
The stakes are essentially the laying of the foundation stone for the refoundation of the Federation and more broadly of all French football, because professional football will not escape, in this vast general movement of reform, a review of its own practices and governance.
NP: Should the deposed Federal Council be replaced by a new body? What changes are conceivable?
EB: Initially, the new body can only conform to the current statutes which, by definition, will not yet have been modified, since the congress agreed that it was neither appropriate nor conceivable that those who failed, albeit collectively, but failed nonetheless, should be precisely those who preside over the future refoundation. Therefore, a new Council, following the old modalities, will be elected.
NP: Apparently, there is a quarrel between the “amateur” world and the professional world of football. What are the fundamental themes of this division?
EB: Firstly, I would like to draw attention to the fact that the “professional world” is itself very divided. Let’s never forget that professional football is primarily 40 competing clubs! Furthermore, it seems that the governing body of professional football is not necessarily and systematically in phase with the professional clubs themselves or their particular association, the UCP. Thus some “pros” are very supportive of helping the Federation, they stated to Fernand DUCHAUSSOY (notably Messrs AULAS and LOUVEL) while respecting its prerogatives and also wishing, in my view very rightfully, to be associated with the major projects: French National Team, French Cup, Refereeing.
In this regard, I want to highlight an absurdity, while the Professional League mobilizes more than 10 million euros each season for refereeing, it has only one right, according to Mr. BATTA and the DNA, and that is to remain silent! Clearly, this cannot continue on such bases. Furthermore, a theme of division is the feeling experienced by some “amateurs” of a form of contempt towards them by the “pros” who, for example, hardly ever participate in the actions and events of amateur football.
Finally, the main stumbling block between the two footballs remains, of course, financial issues. The “amateurs” feel that the “pros” want to manage the French National Team solely to take hold of the “Bleus” revenues, which allow the Federation to balance its accounts. The same goes for the magnificent NIKE contract (41 million euros until 2018) exclusively negotiated by the “amateurs” and which the “pros” were demanding a share of…
NP: There has been talk about the General States of football recommended by the President of the Republic. Where do we stand?
EB: They are being prepared. Despite all the efforts of the president of the Professional League, it is the Federation that, on instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, will be the project manager and leader of the operation. They are expected to take place as planned in October 2010.
NP: Who are the new strong men of French football emerging on the horizon? And what is their philosophy?
EB: I’ll use a joker when it comes to naming the new strong men of French football! In this regard, my public speech is constrained because I would not want, by revealing the names of certain individuals, to achieve the opposite effect to that desired, which is to help them take on responsibilities in the new governance. Regarding their philosophy: improve federal democracy, notably in the functioning of the Councils (mode of election and organization of meetings) as well as in the omnipotence of the major federal departments (DTN, DNA) and more broadly better control the federal administration in the direction of greater transparency. Also, make a sustained effort to fundamentally review internal and external communication. Value the LFA by granting it greater administrative and financial autonomy.
Finally, rebuild relations with professional football towards greater mutual respect and regained confidence to work together for the success, particularly at the international level, of French football.
