For thousands of amateur clubs across France, the cost of getting a team to the next fixture has become another battle of the season. The French Football Federation has now confirmed a fuel-support scheme worth more than €2.2 million, aimed at easing travel costs for all 12,000 amateur clubs.
Fuel aid confirmed for amateur clubs
- At the start of October, French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo said the governing body would introduce financial help for grassroots teams facing rising fuel prices.
- On Thursday, the FFF Executive Committee approved the final terms of the fuel-voucher operation.
- More than €2.2 million will be distributed directly into the bank accounts of the country’s 12,000 amateur clubs.
- Each club will receive between €100 and €500, with the payment calculated from its number of registered players.
| Number of registered players | Fuel support payment |
|---|---|
| Up to 100 | €100 |
| 101 to 249 | €200 |
| 250 to 499 | €300 |
| 500 or more | €500 |
Travel budgets under strain
Diallo said the federation wanted to provide direct assistance to its amateur clubs during a period in which higher petrol and diesel prices have made away trips increasingly difficult to finance.
“We had announced this operation and it is now being delivered,” Diallo said. “That is something I welcome, because the Federation’s role is to stay close to its clubs and support them whenever it can.”
Fuel prices have risen sharply amid the conflict in the Middle East, affecting clubs as well as households across France. For amateur sides operating with limited financial room, transport spending has become a growing pressure point.
Some clubs have had to raise membership fees, while families have also been forced to reorganise journeys to training sessions and matches, including through car-sharing arrangements.
Diallo added that the intervention showed why the FFF needed to remain financially strong enough to act during a season and respond to the everyday concerns of grassroots football.
