Esports agency NEO has confirmed to The Esports Radar it is in discussions with Riot Games and local stakeholders to explore a new operational model for the Ligue Française de League of Legends (LFL), following reports that long-time operator Webedia is set to step down after the 2026 season.
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Contacted for comment, the agency confirmed that conversations regarding the future of France’s regional League of Legends circuit are underway, though no agreement has been finalised: “We are in talks with Riot and key stakeholders in France to find a new sustainable model, but nothing is decided yet, knowing that we didn’t plan to invest in LFL but rather in EMEA Masters and Game Changers LoL.”
The update follows reports first aired on French esports broadcast On Refait Le Nash, where creator and former professional player Thomas “Zaboutine” Si-Hassen cited sources indicating Webedia had reached an agreement to exit the league ahead of 2027. Webedia has co-managed the LFL alongside Riot Games France since the league’s inception in January 2019, overseeing commercial partnerships, day-to-day administration, and broadcast production alongside local production partner OTP.
A key factor in the potential transition is NEO CEO Bertrand Amar, who spent nearly a decade heading Webedia’s esports operations before stepping down at the end of 2025 to co-found the agency. NEO has since assumed control over several key tournament properties previously operated by Webedia, including the aforementioned EMEA Masters and LoL Game Changers for the 2026–2027 cycle, alongside EVO France.
Launched in March 2026 by Amar alongside Trust Esport Capital founding partner and ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup) creator Matthieu Dallon, N.E.O. (New Esports Org.) was established with the stated objective of designing, organising, and promoting esports competitions across Europe. Other key properties include the virtual reality circuit EVA Pro League, international Rocket League operations alongside tournament organiser BLAST, and international media distribution for events such as the Esports Nations Cup (now rescheduled to November 2027).
