1/4
Christian Constantin no longer wants to invest in FC Sion from summer 2024; his son Barthélémy (right), the current sports director, should not take over the club leadership.
Ugo Curty
FC Sion knows its expiry date. Its president, Christian Constantin, has announced that he will stop investing in the club from June 2024. “The club will then find its natural place in the amateur leagues,” he predicts. The Valais team would be relegated to the Promotion League (the third highest league). “The disappearance of FC Sion from the elite would be regrettable for Swiss football because it is a real traditional club,” says Claudius Schäfer. The league CEO does not want to comment further on this sensitive topic.
Alain Joseph: «Constantin loves to bluff…»
But can Constantine be believed when he says he’s had enough? Isn’t it a new ploy by the clever businessman? After all, he announced his resignation on the same day that the federal court sentenced him in a tax dispute.
«Christian loves to bluff and use public pressure to get things moving. But here I still have the impression that he has arrived at the end,” says Alain Joseph, who sold Lausanne-Sport in 2017. Is it all just a bluff? “No, my career is behind me,” insists Constantin. In November, he canceled the contract with the city of Sion to rent the tourbillon from 2025.
“He’s the only boss and can resign at any time,” says Edmond Isoz, ex-president of the league. “He knows the business and even player contracts that go beyond 2024 will not be a problem for him.”
The Valais State Councilor Frédéric Favre, who is responsible for sport, seems to have come to terms with it. “I can understand his position after investing for so many years. Nevertheless, I am optimistic that FC Sion can continue to inspire the canton under a different model. »
CC: 92 million francs invested in Sion so far
The club is inextricably linked to its president. He has been in office since 2003, and his first term was from 1992 to 1997. His investments are estimated at a total of CHF 92 million. An infusion that was partially recouped with transfers and which also enabled the real estate developer to generate business outside of football. Is a sale up for discussion? “If someone has the means, I’m willing to talk,” said the President. “The problem is that we’ve been talking about it for a long time, but no one wants to spend money. I estimate we need about 10 million a year to keep the store running.”
A lack of infrastructure is the major obstacle
The lack of infrastructure is a major obstacle. «The tourbillon does not belong to the club and it is one of the oldest stadiums in Switzerland. There is a severe lack of revenue. In addition, the team trains on eight courts that belong to my private property. If we want to have a campus and a stadium worthy of the name, we have to raise at least 150 million.”
Could the Valais authorities help with the search for investors? “We are always ready to help, but Christian Constantin has enough skills in this area,” says Favre. “The city of Sion and the canton have already invested a lot to adapt the stadium to European standards.”
Will Sion soon become a farm team?
A credible scenario is the takeover by a large structure that owns several clubs. “It would be the safest option,” said Raffaele Poli, head of the Football Observatory (CIES). “The Super League is interesting because it enhances your talents. It is a recognized championship and accessible to recruiters». More recently, Lugano (Chicago Fire) and Lausanne (INEOS) have entered such a form of timeshare, but so far with limited success.
Credit Suisse Super League
|
team |
SP |
TD |
pt |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
8th |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
||
|
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |