French President to stand by tax plan for soccer clubs despite threat of scrapping games

French President Francois Hollande addresses the media at the European Council building in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 25, 2013. Migration, as well as an upcoming Eastern Partnership summit, will top the agenda in Friday's meeting of EU leaders. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

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French President Francois Hollande walks towards the conference room to address the media at the European Council building in Brussels, Friday, Oct. 25, 2013. Migration, as well as an upcoming Eastern Partnership summit, will top the agenda in Friday's meeting of EU leaders. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

BRUSSELS – French President Francois Hollande says he will stick to a government tax plan to impose a super-levy on soccer players' salaries despite the threat of the nation's pro clubs to scrap games one weekend next month.

Hollande told reporters at Friday's European Union summit that "the law must be the same for all" once the plan to implement a so-called 75-percent tax law on income above 1 million euros ($1.38 million) per year is approved.

The law would mainly affect the clubs rather than the players, as is geared toward making employers bear the tax burden.

Jean-Pierre Louvel, president of the Union of Professional Football Clubs, says the law would be "the death of French football" if it is pushed through.