PSG success barely covers up French football's woes - World
Paris Saint-Germain's progress to the Champions League final should be a cause for French football to celebrate but their achievement hardly disguises the fact that the game in the country is in crisis as the Ligue 1 season ended this weekend.
PSG had already wrapped up a fourth consecutive domestic title long before the French campaign concluded, and Luis Enrique's team can also add the French Cup next Saturday.
That will be followed by the Champions League showdown against Inter Milan on May 31, as PSG aim to finally get their hands on the trophy they covet most.
France have won the World Cup twice and reached two more finals in the last seven editions.
But French clubs have made a habit of underachieving in continental competitions, meaning PSG can become just the second club from the country ever to win European football's biggest prize, after Marseille in 1993.
Put another way, France has still won as many European Cups as Scotland and Romania, or one fewer than Nottingham Forest.
Little wonder, then, that the French footballing community seems united in getting behind PSG in the final, despite the impossibility for rival sides of challenging the Qatar-backed club domestically.
"We are lucky to have a French team in the final," said Nice coach Franck Haise.
"I am not a Paris supporter. My club is Nice, but I am eager to see Paris win the final. I am French, as I was when Marseille won in 1993."
Marseille, Monaco and Lyon have at least all got to European semi-finals in recent years and should aspire to regularly compete at that level.
Lyon's debts
Yet the currently plight of Lyon, seven times French champions, is worrying.
Eagle Football, the company controlled by American businessman John Textor and which owns Lyon, recently reported debts of 540 million euros ($603m).
That has raised doubts as to Lyon's ability to remain a going concern, all the more so after their failure to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Lyon were recenty warned that they would be demoted to Ligue 2 if drastic action was not taken to reduce their debts.
Sports daily L'Equipe also reported that the club must accept sanctions from UEFA in order to be allowed into Europe at all next season.
At least Marseille and Monaco know they will be in the Champions League along with PSG.
TV deal
Any French club unable to take a share of the riches on offer in Europe faces a challenging future because of uncertainty surrounding Ligue 1's domestic TV deal.
A last-minute agreement for this season with streaming platform DAZN promised Ligue 1 clubs just 400 million euros a year to show the majority of matches per weekend.
Adding in other deals, including with international broadcasters, the French league (LFP) was still far short of its stated ambition of bringing in one billion euros ($1.115 billion) annually from TV.
As a result, Ligue 1's current TV deal is down on its previous contract, leaving France trailing even further behind Europe's biggest leagues -- the Premier League's upcoming domestic rights deal for the next four years is valued at 2.02 billion euros per season.
What's more, the deal with DAZN is now expected to be broken early, with the French league instead looking to create its own channel to broadcast matches.
And so in the short to medium term clubs can have no guarantees as to how much income they will receive from television.
That can only make life harder for most, and the huge gulf between PSG and the rest may only grow larger.
"PSG have invested a lot of money and are years ahead of us in so many respects but our ambition is still to be able to compete with them," insisted Marseille coach Roberto De Zerbi.
However, the Parisians are about to go to the Club World Cup in the USA, where the prize money on offer will see the winners receiving up to $125 million.
Perhaps all PSG's rivals can hope for is that Luis Enrique's team come back from that tournament so exhausted that the playing field opens up a little next season.
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
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🔴LIVE UPDATES: US embassy in Qatar tells Americans to shelter in place amid Iran-Israel war - Region
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It exports just under half of that amount and consumes the rest. When trading opened on Monday, Brent and the main US crude contract, WTI, jumped more than four percent to their highest prices since January. - Key figures at around 0700 GMT - Brent North Sea Crude: UP 1.1 percent at $78.08 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 1.1 percent at $74.89 per barrel 10:20 North Korea condemned US strikes on Iran, calling it a violation of the United Nations charter and blaming the tension in the Middle East on the "reckless valor of Israel". "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US which severely violated the UN Charter with respect for sovereignty," said a spokesperson of the North's foreign ministry, according to a statement carried by the state news agency. 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EU foreign ministers are also meeting in Belgium. 09:45 Sirens sounded across Israel and Iran as both countries exchanged their latest round of fires. People gather in an underground shelter in Tel Aviv on 23 June 2025. AFP The Israeli army said it was intercepting missiles from Iran, while Iranian state media Fars said the air defence system was working to counter a drone attack. Israel's army said in a statement that more than 15 fighter jets had struck the Kermanshah area in western Iran, "neutralising a number of surface-to-surface missile launch and storage sites aimed toward Israeli territory". 09:40 Iran's judiciary said it executed a man found guilty of spying for Israel. "Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was hanged this morning for intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime," the judiciary said, using Iran's term for Israel. Shayesteh was alleged to have had ties with Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency. He was also convicted of collaborating with Iran International, a Persian-language TV channel based in London that is critical of the Iranian government. Iran frequently announces the arrest or execution of individuals it accuses of working with foreign intelligence agencies, particularly its arch-foe, Israel. On Sunday, authorities pledged to speed up such cases. The same day, the judiciary announced the execution of Majid Mosayebi, who was also convicted of being an agent for Mossad. 09:35 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was due to hold "important" talks with Russia's key ally Vladimir Putin on Monday, 48 hours after a major US attack on Iran. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, adjusts his headphones during a press conference at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress Center on the sidelines of the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul on 22 June 2025. AFP "In this new dangerous situation ... our consultations with Russia can certainly be of great importance," Araghchi said after landing in Moscow, according to Russian state media. The official IRNA news agency reported Sunday that Araghchi would "hold consultations with the president and other senior officials of Russia regarding regional and international developments following the military aggression by the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran." Putin initially pitched himself as a possible mediator between Iran and Israel, but on Friday said he was only "suggesting ideas", after US President Donald Trump pushed back against a role for the Kremlin leader. Russia's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned the US strikes as "irresponsible," after having previously warned against military intervention. 09:15 Iran warned the United States of severe repercussions following US attacks on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities, as the Iran-Israel war entered its 11th day. "This hostile act... will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region," said armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari. "The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted (military) operations," he said on state television. 08:15 The US State Department issued a "worldwide caution" for Americans, saying the conflict in the Middle East could put those traveling or living abroad at an increased security risk. "There is the potential for demonstrations against US citizens and interests abroad," and "the Department of State advises US citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution," said the State Department's security alert. 08:05 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China to help deter Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route, following American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. AFP "I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil," Rubio said on Fox News. China has joined Russia and a chorus of Arab states in condemning the US attacks, saying that they "escalate tensions in the Middle East." Analysts have said Iran may opt to retaliate against Washington's early Sunday attack by shutting the Strait, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes. "If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that," Rubio added. "But other countries should be looking at that as well, it would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours. It would be, I think, a massive escalation that would merit a response. Not just by us but from others," he said. Meanwhile, Iran has threatened bases used by the US military, with an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying they will be considered a "legitimate target for our armed forces." 08:00 US President Donald Trump hinted at interest in regime change in Iran, despite several of his administration officials earlier stressing that US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites did not have that goal. "It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. Trump also claimed that US strikes had destroyed Iranian nuclear sites, after other officials cautioned that the extent of damage was still unclear. "Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!" Trump wrote on social media, without sharing the images he was referencing. "The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!" he added. 16:20 Three empty oil and chemical tankers have diverted away from the Strait of Hormuz, according to MarineTraffic data as reported by the Times of Israel, as fears grow over potential Iranian reprisals following recent strikes on Tehran nuclear facilities. The Marie C, an oil tanker sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, and Red Ruby, a crude oil tanker flying the flag of Panama, dropped anchor near Fujairah in the UAE, while the Kohzan Maru, another oil tanker flying the british flag, was tracked sailing in the Gulf of Oman. Japan's Nippon Yusen and Mitsui OSK Lines have also instructed their vessels to minimise time in the Gulf as a precaution. The strategic waterway remains tense amid escalating regional instability. 16:05 Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed on Monday that the country's security situation remains stable, following a precautionary message from the U.S. Embassy advising American citizens to shelter in place. Foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the alert did not point to any specific threat. He added that Qatar stands ready to take "all necessary measures" to safeguard citizens and residents. The advisory had raised concerns earlier in the day, though no incidents were reported. 15:45 German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that there was "no reason to criticise" the United States over its strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran. "There is no reason to criticise what America did at the weekend. Yes, it is not without risk. But leaving things as they were was not an option either," Merz said in a speech to the Federation of German Industries. 15:20 Power supply was restored Monday to northern Tehran after outages caused by an Israeli air raid earlier in the day, local media reported. "The outages were completely resolved in northern Tehran," Tasnim news agency said, citing the regional electricity company. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 hours ago
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Oil prices seesaw as investors await Iran response to US strikes - Economy
Oil prices wobbled and stock markets wavered Monday as traders awaited Tehran's response to US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. US and European stocks retreated while Asian equities were mixed, with markets keeping a close eye on whether Iran will block the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of global oil output. When trading opened on Monday, international benchmark crude contract Brent and US equivalent WTI both jumped more than four percent to hit their highest price since January. They later dipped briefly into the red and then wobbled, standing up 0.3 percent as Wall Street opened for trading. "Will Iran choose to choke off the Strait of Hormuz or not? That is the big question," said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB bank. But, "looking at the oil price this morning it is clear that the oil market doesn't assign a very high probability of it happening," he added. Iran is the world's ninth-biggest oil-producing country, exporting just under half of the 3.3 million barrels it produces per day. "The prevailing view appears to be that the US involvement will prove limited militarily, yet effective, by seriously undermining Iran's nuclear ambitions," said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation. "Investors are also speculating that Iran's ability to retaliate has been severely restricted," he added. Tensions remained elevated however as Iran and Israel intensified attacks on each other on the war's 11th day. "The markets are not yet reacting with any degree of panic to the US airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities as they await to see how Tehran responds," said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. Wall Street stocks opened slightly lower, with the S&P 500 index slipping 0.1 percent. In Europe, sentiment on the Paris and Frankfurt stock markets was also hit by a closely watched survey that showed eurozone business activity was almost stagnant again in June. London's stock exchange was lower with shares in airlines, including EasyJet and British Airways-owner IAG, suffering losses on fears of rising energy costs and disruptions in travel to the Middle East. In Asia, Tokyo was lower while Hong Kong and Shanghai gained. "So far, satellite images reportedly suggest that oil continues to flow through the Strait, which may explain the muted market reaction to the news," said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote Bank. She added that there is optimism that Iran will avoid full-blown retaliation "to prevent its own oil facilities from becoming targets and to avoid a widening conflict that could hurt China -- its biggest oil customer." But "if things get uglier" the price of US crude could even spike beyond $100 per barrel, she said. Brent was trading at above $77 per barrel on Monday while WTI was around $74. The dollar rose against other currencies but analysts questioned to what extent this would hold out. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
