French Football Federation Considers Ligue 1 Playoff Format to Counter PSG Dominance

The French Football Federation (FFF) is considering a radical overhaul of Ligue 1's format, proposing a playoff system among the top four teams to determine the league champion instead of the traditional points-based method. This proposal aims to address the long-standing dominance of Paris Saint-Germain, who have won 11 of the last 13 seasons and currently lead by a significant margin, thereby injecting greater competitiveness into the league. The idea involves semi-finals where 1st faces 4th and 2nd faces 3rd, with the winners meeting in a final to decide the champion, a format inspired by the women's first division and North American sports leagues. The move comes amid financial challenges, including a strained relationship with streaming partner DAZN and Ligue 1 being ranked fifth in profitability in Europe, far behind the Premier League. Initial reactions from club leaders and players have been generally positive, viewing the playoffs as a way to rejuvenate domestic and international interest in French football. Additional changes under consideration include restructuring the league’s governance and potentially reintroducing a League Cup to further revitalize the competition.