Source Analysis - L'Equipe
Verdict - Tier 4
Transfer Track News · August 2, 2024
L’Équipe, originally launched in the 19th century to cover cycling races, has evolved into a cornerstone of French sports journalism. The publication is best known for its comprehensive coverage of football, rugby, motorsports like Formula One, and cycling. It played a pivotal role in the creation of some of the most significant sporting events, including the Tour de France and the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, now known as the UEFA Champions League. Over the decades, L’Équipe has cemented its position as an iconic sports reference in France, deeply ingrained in the country's journalistic and cultural landscape.
However, despite its illustrious history and prominent role in sports media, L’Équipe's reliability, particularly in football-related news, has come under scrutiny. The publication has faced criticism for its sometimes inconsistent and controversial reporting, especially in areas like player ratings after major matches. One of the most notable examples occurred after the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, where L’Équipe was widely criticized for its harsh player evaluations. Despite Kylian Mbappé’s historic performance, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final since Geoff Hurst in 1966, the publication did not award him a perfect score. Additionally, L’Équipe refused to rate Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembélé, which sparked further backlash.
L’Équipe has also faced criticism for its inflammatory caricatures of football teams and their fanbases across Europe, often making controversial statements to draw attention. A notable example occurred in 2017 when L’Équipe published an article mocking Burnley Football Club, portraying them as a racist, all-white team whose players were characterized as brutish and xenophobic. It was only after readers passed the paywall that the article acknowledged Burnley's successful performances during the 2017-18 season, when they qualified for European football for the first time in decades. However, even then, L’Équipe continued its negative tone, attacking the coaching methods and appearance of Burnley manager Sean Dyche. Such practices have raised concerns about the publication's approach to journalism, suggesting that sensationalism is sometimes prioritized over factual reporting.
When it comes to transfer rumors, L’Equipe has occasionally broken news when it comes to French players and clubs. They accurately reported on Liverpool’s interest for French international center-back Ibrahima Konate in 2021, was one of the first outlets to break the news of Ousmane Dembele moving from Borussia Dortmund to Catalan giants FC Barcelona, and successfully called Spanish defensive-midfielder Mara Roca’s shock transfer to Bayern Munich from CF Espanyol in 2020.
L’Équipe has also been criticized for frequently publishing inaccurate reports, particularly concerning transfer rumors and football news. For instance, they incorrectly reported that Wesley Fofana was not interested in moving to Chelsea Football Club, despite his transfer to the club in the summer of 2022. Additionally, L’Équipe claimed that former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was eager to join a new team immediately after leaving Madrid, but he has remained unemployed, reportedly waiting for an opportunity to coach the French national team.
Due to their frequent inaccuracies in football reporting and their tendency to publish sensationalized and inflammatory stories, we have assigned L’Équipe a Tier 5 rating. Consequently, we have chosen not to include it among the sources used on our website, prioritizing more reliable and balanced outlets.