The Brussels-based RWDM football club is facing a wave of disapproval, not only from local fans, but also from Olympique Lyonnais. The American businessman’s controversial decision to rename the club in Daring Brussels last June aroused a strong indignation among Belgian fans. Faced with the growing pressure from the protests, the club finally turned back, announcing a return to its original identity. This decision, formalized in a press release, keeps the name “Racing White Daring Molembek” and the acronym RWDM, nicknamed “the 4 magic letters”, while associating it with the name Brussels to facilitate international expansion. The club’s historic logo, created in 1973, remains unchanged, with the simple addition of the name Brussels.

In addition, Olympique Lyonnais is involved in a friendly match scheduled for July 23rd in Décines against the White Daring Molembek Racing Brussels, a meeting that brings some relief to the supporters of the Belgian club attached to its history. In parallel, the next season of Ligue 1 will be broadcast on two platforms: SurfIN Sports, which will keep one meeting a week, and a platform accessible via various distributors, with the exception of Canal+. The Ligue Professionnel de Football (LFP) formalized Mediawan as the new producer of the broadcast, after a tender procedure that privileged the company to 21 Production.

The new channel will be offered at a price of EUR 14.99 per month with commitment, and preferential rates are provided for young adults. The championship will resume on August 15, and it remains to be determined whether Olympique Lyonnais will participate or not. The answer to this question will be available on Wednesday, after consultation with the committee. This situation highlights the issues involved in the diffusion of professional football and the passionate reactions of supporters to the identity changes of their clubs.

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