PARIS — French radio stations vowed Friday to boycott the UEFA Champions League clash between Manchester United and Marseille next month over the “exorbitant” transmission fees being demanded by the English Premier League giants.

Radio France chief of sport Jacques Vendroux said United had demanded €26,000 ($35,733) from each French radio station wishing to cover the second leg of the last-16 clash at Old Trafford.

Vendroux indicated that the demand was all the more bizarre because English radio stations were able to cover Wednesday’s first leg in Marseille for free.

As a result, Vendroux said Radio France and its two sister stations France Info and Radio Bleu Provence, would be joined by RTL, Europe 1 and RMC in boycotting the match on March 15.

“It’s the most exorbitant sum I’ve ever heard being asked for a [soccer] match since the start of the Champions League,” Vendroux said. “It’s totally unheard of. We won’t be part of this racketeering.”

Vendroux said he had “personally” informed UEFA chief Michel Platini, adding: “[Platini] told me he would be looking into it and would inform the relevant service.”

UEFA told AFP that each club was at liberty to allow “two radio stations free access on the night of Champions League matches, with a fee of around 1,000 euros for technical purposes.”

But the European soccer ruling body added: “For all other radio stations, the host club is at liberty to exploit its rights as it likes.”

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