DAZN and Ligue 1 deal reaches premature end

According to reports, DAZN will terminate its broadcast rights agreement with France’s Ligue 1 just one year into a four-year deal.

Following deliberations between the broadcaster and the Professional Football League (LFP), French football’s governing body, LFP Directors voted to terminate the contract.

According to French sports outlet L’Équipe, DAZN will pay the LFP €100m to exit the agreement, alongside €140m owed for the final two instalments.

The termination follows reported disputes since the start of 2025, with the LFP highlighting withheld payments and DAZN citing alleged failures by the LFP to adequately combat piracy of its broadcasts.

 The LFP is now reportedly focusing on developing its own direct-to-consumer streaming service, potentially with operational support from DAZN if the €100m compensation fee is waived.

A statement regarding the LFP partnership said, ‘Coming to France, losing money and stopping after a year does not make much sense. We are convinced that we can bring great added value to the league as part of this chain project.

‘Leaving the clubs in the unknown with a chain project that does not yet have the beginning of something concrete seems extremely adventurous to us three and a half months before the start of the championship.

‘We are ready to invest a hundred million euros for this channel.’