Total income per season for all audiovisual rights will now be €668million up by 15m from the existing €653m. Nine of the packages have been allocated to existing TV partner Canal+, while the remaining packages have gone to the League's title sponsor, Orange.

Monsieur Thiriez said: "I think that the result obtained is extremely satisfactory. There has been some criticism of the way in which we packaged the rights, but we have been vindicated.

"Not only me, but also everyone involved - all the presidents and those involved with their clubs - stuck by the facts, and the value of the offers has been realised.

"The League, which is only the agent of the clubs, ensures more than half of the resources of the 40 professional clubs, but it also takes part in the financing of amateur football. 

"We should not forget that 5% of our rights income goes to the whole of the sport's amateurs.

"Today, I think that everyone is satisfied: professional football, amateur football - but also, and it is important, those who have won the rights.

"in businesses of this importance, it is necessary that there is never a 'winner' and a 'loser'. It is not necessary that there is someone gaining more than others - and I have the feeling today that everyone is gaining. 

"Football is gaining, Canal+ is gaining, Orange is gaining. Everyone is content."

For 460m euros, Canal+ adds to its present package ten Sunday matches as well as the main Sunday evening match. It also has four of the five sectors of magazines and multiplexing.

Orange will have access to the main Saturday match to stream to its customers on Orange TV, plus the magazine programme and mobile rights.

Monsieur Thiriez says he does not believe the split between two big companies will be detrimental in any way. 

He adds: "It is not any disadvantage for the televiewer, and I believe the the two operators are satisfied with this allocation. In the long run, it is not necessarily bad to have two operators."