Crisis at AS Monaco: the Principality ready to take back control

The payment/salary delays at AS Monaco, at the heart of our article published Tuesday, are now taking on an institutional dimension. According to information from L’Équipe, the Principality of Monaco itself has decided to intervene directly to take over management of the club, which is in serious financial difficulty.

Weighed down by growing debts, repeated payment delays and almost non-existent cash flow, the Roca Team has reportedly reached the brink. One major cause is the freezing of president Aleksej Fedorycsev’s assets, in an increasingly restrictive geopolitical context.

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Salary delays become unmanageable

As announced, the salary delays have profoundly deteriorated the internal climate. L’Équipe confirms that players have lost confidence in the club’s management, with some salaries paid late, sometimes partially, and through unusual financial arrangements.

The sports daily notably recalls that players had threatened to strike before hosting Gravelines-Dunkerque on January 13, before receiving, the day before the game, their November salary, while December’s payments were still outstanding. Scenes revealing the unease were reportedly even observed publicly, reflecting the squad’s growing frustration.

Imminent political takeover

According to L’Équipe, the decision has now been made at the highest level. The takeover of the club by the Principality was reportedly discussed at a Monegasque government council meeting, before being examined by Parliament. The objective is clear: prevent a sporting, economic and symbolic collapse of the most internationally visible club.

This intervention would involve settling past debts to ensure business continuity. Luxury Tax owed to the LNB, fines imposed by EuroLeague, player salaries, unpaid contractors and agent commissions would add up to a bill of several million euros. In return, Aleksej Fedorycsev’s shares would be transferred for a symbolic amount.

Temporary stewardship before a new project

Still according to L’Équipe, this takeover is not intended to be long-term. It would be a temporary arrangement, a legal « bridge, » designed to keep the club afloat while awaiting the arrival of a new majority shareholder.

Several options are reportedly already being studied, including the Pastor family. According to our information, it is to this extremely wealthy family that the government has turned. Not necessarily motivated initially, but with historical ties to the government and princely family, they could take the plunge. Other options would also exist, approaching a key deadline: the presentation of budgets for next season, expected by mid-May.

A wealthy financier would reportedly be willing to relocate the project to Nice, building a large arena, possibly under the pretext of the 2030 Winter Olympics with the need for an ice rink in the French Riviera metropolis. A vague project to be taken with a grain of salt in this period of heated electoral campaign in Nice, where sworn enemies Christian Estrosi and Eric Ciotti are at war. Above all, it seems impossible to imagine that the Monegasque government would agree to see AS Monaco move to France, to neighboring Nice.

In the immediate term, this intervention by the Principality appears to be a direct response to an untenable situation. A strong signal, both for the players and for Monaco’s image on the European basketball scene.