Acquisition of Paris FC: Anne Hidalgo welcomes “the new ambitions of a popular club”

Will Paris soon have two major football clubs, as is the case in other major European capitals? Alongside Paris-Saint-Germain, a giant of world football, Paris FC could quickly enter a new era. The club, currently leader of Ligue 2, is the subject of advanced discussions between the Arnault family (which owns LVMH, owner of the Parisien) and Red Bull for a possible takeover by 2027.

If the interested parties did not, at this stage, wish to make comments on the nature of the discussions initiated, the information was invited into the hemicycle of the Paris Council this Thursday. By chance of the calendar, the deliberative assembly of the City had put on its agenda a vote on requests for planning permission from Paris FC for the construction of a women’s football training center on the playground of ‘Orly.

But the revelation of this change of owners risks relegating this issue to the background. “This is very good news for a club which is of a different nature,” greeted the mayor (PS) of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. I am delighted with this shareholder base and these new ambitions for a popular Parisian club. This will allow it to prosper as is the case in many large cities which have several clubs. »

“Very good news for the club”

“This is very good news for the club,” said Pierre Rabadan, deputy mayor in charge of sport, the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Seine, who had recently been taken into confidence. This is a very good thing for the development of Paris FC. There has been a lot of press about whether there can be two clubs in Paris. We always said that was the case. It’s a club that we will be happy to support towards the best level and perhaps towards a derby next year. »

While waiting for a hypothetical Paris FC – PSG in Ligue 1, the announcement of the new shareholding is not without leaving some questions. Starting with the stadium where Paris FC players will eventually be able to play. Currently resident at the Stade Charléty (13th century), the club has long been discussing a move to the Jean Bouin stadium (16th century), occupied by the Stade Français rugby club.

“The question of the stadium was already raised before, there were problems in Charléty, particularly with the lawns. This is also a stage where it is difficult to develop an economic plan. These are several factors which mean that Paris FC was already thinking about another option beforehand. » And among them, that of a departure towards the Jean Bouin stadium. “We have to see if it is possible to share the stadium with Stade Français,” confirms Pierre Rabadan. Discussions are progressing. »