Zinedine Zidane’s plan for a new Z5 sports complex in Onet-le-Château is running into resistance over the use of land that was classified as agricultural. The project has already cleared some administrative hurdles, but it remains contested and is now tied up in legal and political pushback.
According to Centre-Presse, the former France international wants to build the complex in Aveyron, near the La Roque high school in Onet-le-Château. The site would cover 20,000 square meters and include nine padel courts, a small football pitch, and a restaurant.
A project that divides the local authorities
The land was classified as agricultural at the time of the sale approved in February 2025, according to the rules of the Aveyron branch of the Safer rural land agency. A building permit had already been issued, which helped move the project forward despite the land-use dispute.
The choice of Onet-le-Château also has a personal element for Zidane, who selected the commune because of its proximity to his in-laws, who are originally from the area. That local connection has not prevented the debate from intensifying around the use of farmland for a sports complex.
Legal challenges continue despite prefectural approval
In November 2025, an appeal was filed with the prefect of Aveyron arguing that the mayor of Onet-le-Château had made “an obvious error of assessment” regarding both the date of the building permit and the agricultural nature of the land. The prefecture ultimately chose not to challenge the original decision and confirmed the legality of the project.
Even so, the future of the Z5 complex remains uncertain. Opponents of the mayor have challenged the project’s legality, and two appeals have been filed with the Toulouse administrative court by the Collectif de protection des terres agricoles du Ruthénois.
The case now sits at the intersection of sport, local planning, and farmland protection, with no final resolution yet in sight. For now, Zidane’s next Z5 project in Aveyron remains on hold amid a dispute that is far from over.