French football strengthens player protections through landmark collective agreements

• French player union UNFP and the country's football social partners have signed two historic collective agreements covering women’s professional football and the newly created men's Ligue 3
• The agreements introduce stronger employment rights, enhanced health and maternity protections, minimum standards and collective image rights for players
• The deals demonstrate how social dialogue continues to deliver meaningful improvements for players while supporting the sustainable development of professional football

Men’s and women’s players in France will benefit from stronger working rights and conditions ahead of the 2026/27 campaign after the country’s social partners in professional football signed two new collective agreements.

The agreements, negotiated and signed by French player union UNFP, France’s professional football employers’ association (FOOT UNIS), and the French football league clubs (U2C2F), represent a significant expansion of collective bargaining coverage in French football and underline the role of social dialogue in protecting players.

The agreements introduce stronger employment rights, enhanced health and maternity protections, minimum standards and collective image rights for footballers in France.

"The signing of these collective agreements is excellent news for the whole of French professional football," said UNFP President David Terrier, who also serves as FIFPRO Europe President and on the FIFPRO global board. "It demonstrates that social dialogue is not just a regulatory tool but a genuine driver of progress and transformation for our sector.

"This conviction is now shared at an international level, as evidenced by the agreements concluded between UEFA and FIFPRO Europe, and subsequently between FIFA and FIFPRO."

Historic agreement for women's football

The new collective agreement for women's professional football establishes, for the first time, a dedicated legal and social framework covering players in France’s top two women’s divisions. 

The women’s collective agreement delivers a comprehensive package of employment rights covering professional standards, health, welfare and governance.

Among its key provisions are:

•    A minimum of 11 contracted players in every professional squad.
•    Full-time employment in the Premiere Ligue and minimum 21-hour part-time contracts in the Seconde Ligue.
•    Seven nights of accommodation provided for players joining a club.
•    Standardised access to appropriate training facilities, medical care and working conditions.
•    Six weeks of paid annual leave.
•    A minimum of 90 days’ continued salary during sickness absence, regardless of length of service.
•    Sixteen weeks of guaranteed maternity pay with no qualifying period.
•    Continued salary during pregnancy-related absence.
•    Paid breastfeeding breaks during working hours.
•    Continued access to club facilities, medical and athletic support throughout pregnancy.
•    Joint governance committees to oversee the ongoing development of the agreement.
•    A framework recognising and protecting players’ collective image rights.

Together, these measures establish a stronger professional environment while addressing issues that have historically been underdeveloped in women’s football in France, particularly around maternity protection, healthcare and employment security.

“This agreement is the culmination of three years of work. It is a tremendous source of pride to see it come into effect,” said UNFP General Secretary Eugenie Le Sommer.

Le Sommer, the French national team’s record appearance holder and goalscorer, currently plays for Mexican club Toluca. The striker previously played for Olympique Lyonnais for 15 years between 2010 and 2025 where she scored more than 300 league goals.

“Even from thousands of kilometers away, I never stopped following this project because it concerns something essential: the recognition of our profession,” the striker said.

“For far too long, women’s footballers have had to pursue their careers without a genuine collective framework to protect our rights. From now on, every player in our leagues will benefit from a common set of guarantees, regardless of their club or career path.”

Professional standards for Ligue 3

The new men’s agreement similarly introduces minimum employment protections for players competing in the reformed Ligue 3, which replaces the Championnat National as the country’s third tier.

Its provisions include:

•    A minimum of 16 full-time professional players at every club.
•    Guaranteed minimum salaries ranging from EUR 2,000 to EUR 2,800 depending on a player’s development pathway.
•    Seven nights of accommodation when joining a club.
•    At least 90 days of continued salary during sickness absence.
•    Retention of end-of-career pension rights for former Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 professionals.
•    Recognition of youth development contracts and academy pathways.
•    Dedicated joint governance bodies to oversee implementation and future improvements.
•    Protection and collective valuation of players’ image rights.

The agreement also supports the development of club academies across Ligue 3, helping strengthen France’s renowned player development system while providing clearer employment pathways for young professional players.

Strengthening French football through social dialogue

Alongside the two new agreements, UNFP and FOOT UNIS have also agreed changes to the national collective agreement for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.

From 1 July 2026, clubs will be able to offer an initial professional contract of up to five years to players aged 18 and over, accompanied by increased minimum salary levels.

Together, the three agreements demonstrate how collective bargaining continues to shape the professional game in France by adapting employment frameworks to different competitions while safeguarding players’ rights.

Terrier concluded: “By prioritising consultation and the pursuit of common interests, we are strengthening both the protection of those involved, the stability of competitions and their appeal. 

“I commend the commitment of all parties who have contributed to these agreements, which represent an important step for the development and credibility of our competitions.”