Chapter 650: Hot Potato

Prince Albert, Michel Pastor and others are well-known figures not only in Monaco, but also in France and even in Europe.

Therefore, they know better than anyone that for people like them and Yang Huan, once they say something, it is like water spilled, and it is difficult to take it back.

Moreover, they could also clearly feel that Yang Huan's meeting this time was more or less suspected of being a pre-emptive notification.

Could it be that his killer weapon really has such lethality?

"If the French Football Federation continues to insist on forcing Monaco to pay taxes according to the French tax rate, then our AS Monaco Football Club will have only one way to go, and that is to leave the French Ligue 1!"

"What?"

Everyone present was shocked by Master Huan's words.

“Leaving Ligue 1?”

"What a joke! How can Monaco be kicked out of Ligue 1?"

"Yeah, we have always been participating in the French Ligue 1. How can we just leave?"

Prince Albert also frowned and looked at Yang Huan, "Mr. Yang Huan, is it too serious to say that you should leave?"

Yang Huan sneered, "If there is any other choice, I don't want to do this!"

Everyone was obviously very suspicious. If they were to impose a tax rate, it would be imposed on all the teams in Ligue 1, not just Monaco. Is it necessary to make it seem like they are targeting you on purpose?

But just as everyone had this thought, Yang Huan gave his own explanation.

"On the surface, this tax is imposed on all Ligue 1 teams, but in reality, it is the most disadvantageous to Monaco for three reasons."

Prince Albert and others immediately listened attentively.

"First, Monaco is far inferior to other French Ligue 1 teams in terms of land and population, so the stadium attendance is the lowest in the entire French Ligue 1. Even the Stade Louis II is not full!"

"This means that Monaco's sources of income are quite scarce. Even the most basic ticket revenue is quite meager."

Everyone present had personally participated in the management of Monaco, so they naturally knew what Yang Huan meant.

When they were running Monaco, the Stade Louis II could reach an average of four to five thousand people per game, which was considered a pretty good attendance. Compared with other French Ligue 1 teams that often had over ten thousand or even tens of thousands of people, it was indeed too shabby.

But don't underestimate this income.

According to statistics from authoritative organizations, the income of European professional football clubs is divided into three major parts: broadcasting fees, match day income and commercial operations. These three sources of income are vital to any professional team.

As a traditional powerhouse in Ligue 1, Monaco, as a pocket-sized country, is far inferior to big cities like Paris, Lyon and Marseille, even compared with small cities like Lille, Auxerre and Dijon.

The land area is incomparable, and the total population is not even a fraction of theirs.

Under such circumstances, Monaco's operations are at a natural disadvantage!

"Secondly, due to objective conditions, Monaco's player reserves and youth training mainly rely on outsiders. In other words, we have to poach players, which requires us to pay higher fees and higher salaries under the same conditions."

"We used to have tax advantages, so our problems in this regard were not obvious. But if we lose the tax advantages, we will lag far behind other Ligue 1 teams and we will be at an absolute disadvantage in competition!"

Everyone nodded again. What Yang Huan said made sense indeed.

"The last one is that due to the objective limitations of the first two, we are not doing well in business operations, especially in sponsorship. We have almost no advantages, so our club's operations in this area have always been slow!"

"We still can't sell the shirt ads on our chests. The club only has two sponsors, which is the poorest in the entire French Ligue 1. So if we want to break through this predicament, there is only one way to go, and that is to enter the Champions League!"

Prince Albert and others all felt the same way at this time.

Under numerous objective restrictions, if Monaco wants to increase its attractiveness to sponsors, it can only enter the Champions League, increase its exposure on this higher platform, and thereby attract sponsors.

"Everyone, these three clauses are almost all very harsh. We used to have tax advantages, so the problem was not big, but if we lose the tax advantages, I can guarantee that Monaco Football Club will inevitably decline!"

This dangerous remark immediately made everyone present's heart skip a beat.

How long has it been since Monaco was relegated?

Didn’t it happen two years ago?

The failed attempt to get promoted to the French Ligue 1 last year is still fresh in their memory, and it makes them shudder with fear.

What if what Yang Huan said is true and Monaco falls into decline again and is relegated back to the French Ligue 2?

At that time, Yang Huan could just let go and sell the team directly, or simply give up on it and leave Monaco. But the royal family will certainly have to step in to take over this mess. At that time, wouldn't these old guys have to come out again one by one?

Thinking of this, many people present were still frightened!

Monaco is a hot potato, whoever takes it will know!

"I have already communicated with the Italian Football Association. I believe that if the French Football Federation does not welcome us, then we will go to Serie A, or at worst start from Serie B!"

Yang Huan's words were spoken very firmly and forcefully!

Prince Albert and others were shocked when they heard this. If Monaco went to play in the Serie A, who knows what would happen. I'm afraid that the subjects in the country would protest.

It was only now that he realized that Yang Huan really came to get a vaccination.

Now Yang Huan’s attitude is very clear. If the French Football Federation really decides to go its own way, then he will flee from Ligue 1, play in Serie B, and then be promoted to Serie A.

By this calculation, Monaco is much better than staying in Ligue 1.

Moreover, Monaco is located near the border between France and Italy. From a geographical point of view, playing in Ligue 1 is almost the same as playing in Serie A.

"Mr. Yang Huan, I understand what you mean, and I also understand your situation!"

Prince Albert decided that no matter what, he had to stabilize Young Master Huan first.

If he is really pushed into a corner and simply gives up, then the Prince of Monaco will be in trouble.

"Let me talk to the French Football Federation and the French government in person to try to gain benefits for Monaco. I believe they will give me some face."

What Yang Huan was waiting for was Prince Albert to show up in person.

Because the reason is very simple. I have contributed money and effort to your Monaco football. Now they are bullying me. If you don't come forward to help me deal with it, wouldn't that be too unfair?

"As for the team's sponsors..." Prince Albert immediately glanced at the wealthy people present.

Michel Pastor and others felt Prince Albert's gaze and immediately understood what he meant.

It's time to shear the sheep!

Normally, we take advantage of Monaco, France and Europe by relying on our relationship with the royal family and our connections. Now it’s time to bleed a little and give back to Monaco!

"Don't worry, our group is planning to do some advertising, so leave the jersey chest advertisement to me!"

"Our company is also very interested in sponsoring Monaco. Let's find an opportunity to talk about it."

"It's still not too late to discuss sponsorship now. Count us in for the new season's sponsorship!"

Everyone was talking, and we got three or four advertising sponsorships!

Yang Huan originally just wanted to come here to complain and persuade Prince Albert to come forward, but he didn't expect that he could actually get sponsorship.

Damn it, if he had known earlier, he would have asked Bolingbroke to come to his house!

"Mr. Yang Huan, I heard that you have a good relationship with Platini?" Prince Albert suddenly remembered something.

Yang Huan nodded, "Yeah, he can still say a few words."

Prince Albert smiled and said, "Platini plays an important role in French football and has a very close relationship with the current president of the French Football Association. If you can convince Platini to come forward, I believe this matter will be more certain!"

When Yang Huan heard this, he almost slapped himself. He didn't even think of Platini.

Isn’t it?

How did Platini become UEFA president?

In order to support Platini's election for UEFA president, the French Football Association even gave Platini the position of UEFA executive committee member in advance, allowing the latter to head the UEFA Disciplinary Committee and gain enough qualifications, after which he successfully became UEFA president in 2007.

Therefore, there is no need to say much about Platini's status in French football, and his relationship with the French Football Association is even better. If he comes forward to speak for us, it will be twice the result with half the effort!

As for whether Platini was willing to help intercede, Yang Huan was even more confident.

Not to mention that he has a close relationship with Platini. If he asks the latter to speak up for him, Platini will not refuse.

What's more, now he has a really big deal he wants to discuss with Platini. By then, let alone asking Platini to act as a lobbyist, even if he wants Platini to do more for Monaco, I'm afraid the UEFA president will agree without hesitation.

"Platini?" Yang Huan laughed, "I will have a good talk with him tonight!"

"Tonight?" Prince Albert was a little surprised.

"Yes, I have already made an appointment with Platini to have dinner together tonight."

Prince Albert felt even happier and more confident when he heard this.

Others may not know, but he is very clear that Platini's influence in French football is quite amazing.

Especially in the past few years when he served as the president of UEFA, he supported French football both overtly and covertly. There were even media rumors at one point that the French Ligue 1 would replace Serie A and become the fourth largest league in Europe.

Such rumors may be somewhat untrue, but as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire. If Platini had not revealed such rumors, how could such rumors have appeared?

"Okay then, I'll leave Platini's case to you. I'll call the French Football Federation right away. If necessary, I'll go to Paris in person!"

Just like Yang Huan acquired Monaco because he valued the tax-free advantages of this pocket-sized city, the Qatari consortium values ​​Paris Saint-Germain precisely because Paris is the political and cultural center of France.

As for teams like Lille, Lyon, Marseille and others, their appeal to foreign capital is obviously not as strong as that of Paris and Monaco.

By the same token, in the Premier League, teams around London are often the most favored by foreign investors.

It can be seen that even in the professional football industry, many things are exactly the same as in other industries.

Yang Huan talked with Prince Albert and others for a while, then looked at the time and saw that it was almost time, so he quickly got up and said goodbye.

He still has a lot of things to do and can't stay here any longer!