Supporters to discuss future of French football at Sénat today

This afternoon Supporters Direct Europe and A la Nantaise, l’Association des Amoureux du FC Nantes, will, together with host Senator Ronan Dantec, hold a conference at the Sénat du France in Paris. The event will be open to all French supporters interested in establishing supporters’ trusts, as well as cross-party representatives from France’s political institutions, many of whom have already expressed their desire for greater levels of supporter ownership and involvement across French football.

A la Nantaise (FC Nantes), Socios Nancy (FC Nancy), Fédération des Culs Rouges (FC Rouen), and Mouvement Azur et Or (Toulon) will participate in the event, presenting their activities and achievements so far; and also emphasising the importance of this growing movement, both in France and across Europe.

They will be joined by William Gaillard (Special Adviser to UEFA President Michel Platini), Bernard Desumer (Vice-President of the Fédération Française de Football) and Colin Farmery (Portsmouth FC), who will bring their perspectives to three round-table discussions.

These will be moderated by journalists Philippe Auclair (France Football magazine, RMC Radio), Alain le Gouguec (France Inter) and Joachim Barbier (So Foot magazine) and will examine the country’s growing movement of democratic supporters’ groups, the benefits of greater supporter involvement in clubs, and how this can be promoted in French football.

Ben Shave, representing Supporters Direct Europe, said: “There is a growing level of political support for greater supporter ownership and involvement in France, and the network of groups with these aims is also growing rapidly. Something is changing – and supporters are aiming to be at the heart of that change.”

The event starts at 14:00 CET and will be broadcast live via Supporters Direct Europe TV.

To find out more about this event and Supporters Direct Europe, please contact Ben Shave: +44 (0) 7985 628 215 /

< Back