Labor&Immigration
French Esports Clubs Form Unified Professional Association
In a significant development for the French esports industry, major clubs have united to form the “Union Française des Clubs d’Esport Professionnels” (UFCEP). This new organization brings together France’s top esports organizations—including Karmine Corp, Gentle Mates, Solary, and Team Vitality—with the shared goal of better representing their interests to government authorities, tournament organizers, and game publishers.
Team Vitality CEO Nicolas Maurer has been elected as the first President of the association following its inaugural General Assembly.
Table of Contents
A Unified Voice for the French Esports Ecosystem
The formation of UFCEP comes at a critical juncture for French esports in 2025, as the country seeks to strengthen its position as a global esports hub. The organization aims to provide a collective response to industry challenges while creating a framework for sustainable growth.
French clubs have been collaborating informally for years in a maturing market, but UFCEP now formalizes this relationship, particularly when interacting with public authorities. Representing all French esports clubs and their millions of fans, UFCEP positions itself as the legitimate entity to advocate for the sector’s needs and facilitate faster, more concrete responses to development challenges with the government.
The organization emphasizes an open and inclusive model, allowing any club meeting eligibility criteria to join automatically. This approach aims to represent professional esports clubs in all their diversity and unify the ecosystem.
Key Priorities: Player Welfare and Industry Sustainability
UFCEP member clubs compete internationally across popular titles including League of Legends, Rocket League, VALORANT, and Counter-Strike, featuring world-renowned talent such as Mathieu “zywOo” Herbaut, Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert, Jérémy “Eika” Valdenaire, and Luna “Lilith” Benzerara-Arnoux.
The association has outlined several priorities:
- Supporting players throughout their often precarious careers
- Creating professional frameworks that allow players to continue their education
- Developing dedicated training programs (esports-studies, specialized training)
- Improving post-career transition opportunities for young players with limited formal education
- Addressing professional challenges including simplified legal frameworks and visa facilitation during transfer windows
- Protecting players’ mental health, particularly regarding cyberbullying
France as an Esports Hub
UFCEP’s values center on performance, inclusion, and passion. The clubs collectively represent over 7 million fans, primarily aged 18-34, and their participation in key international competitions enhances their global visibility.
With global esports viewership reaching 544 million people in 2024, France has become a premier destination for major tournaments. Paris has hosted the League of Legends World Championships multiple times and organized its first Counter-Strike Major in 2023.
The 2025 calendar includes prestigious events such as the VALORANT Champions, Rocket League World Championship, Evolution Championship Series, Fortnite Global Championship 2025, and TFT Open Qualifier, offering UFCEP opportunities to collaborate with the government to enhance these competitions.
UFCEP Leadership
The elected Executive Committee includes:
- President: Team Vitality represented by Nicolas Maurer
- Secretary General: Karmine Corp represented by Arthur Perticoz
- Treasurer: Galions represented by Alexandre Job
Additional members include representatives from Gentle Mates, GameWard, and Team AEGIS.
Key Statistics
- Combined audience: Over 7 million
- Fans aged 18-34: More than 82%
- Number of French and international trophies: Over 110
- Total staff employed: More than 530
Brief Legal Analysis
The formation of UFCEP represents a significant legal development for the French esports industry. By creating a formal association structure, the clubs gain enhanced standing when negotiating with government bodies and advocating for regulatory changes.
From a legal perspective, this unified approach could lead to more standardized contracts for players, simplified visa processes for international competitions, and potentially new frameworks for player welfare. The UFCEP’s collective bargaining power might also influence how tournament organizers and game publishers structure their agreements with French teams.
The association’s emphasis on career development and post-career transition support addresses potential liability concerns regarding player welfare while potentially setting the groundwork for future employment standards in the industry.
As the global esports market continues to evolve legally, organized bodies like UFCEP will likely play crucial roles in shaping region-specific regulations while ensuring their members’ interests are protected in international competitions.
Source and image source: Team Vitality
