Olympique Lyonnais’ request for first Ligue 1 match postponement denied by LFP
The management of Olympique Lyonnais formally approached the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) with a request to reschedule their inaugural Ligue 1 away fixture against Toulouse. This match was slated for Saturday, August 22. The club’s intention was to ensure their squad would be in peak condition for a potential UEFA Champions League playoff tie. However, their appeal proved unsuccessful.
Under the guidance of coach Paulo Fonseca, Olympique Lyonnais commenced pre-season training on June 29, specifically targeting readiness for the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. The first leg of this crucial stage is scheduled for August 4 or 5, with the return leg on August 11. Should Lyon advance, they would then participate in the playoff rounds, which are set to take place during the subsequent two weeks.
With this demanding European schedule in mind, and explicitly stating that their request was contingent upon securing qualification for the Champions League playoffs, Olympique Lyonnais officials submitted a formal letter to the LFP. Their plea was for the postponement of their opening Ligue 1 match, an away trip to Toulouse on Saturday, August 22, which would fall precisely between the two legs of a potential playoff fixture. Echoing arguments previously made by Paris Saint-Germain on multiple occasions last season, OL emphasized the broader interests of French football to bolster their case.
The LFP’s decision arrived later that evening, confirming a negative outcome for Olympique Lyonnais. Following a video conference meeting held this Monday, the Board of Directors of the Ligue de Football Professionnel formally voted to reject OL’s request. A key reason cited for the refusal was the perceived impracticality of initiating the Championship season with a fragmented opening matchday, particularly now that Ligue 1+ is slated to broadcast every single fixture.
