Olympique Lyonnais’ plea for delayed Ligue 1 opener rejected by French football authorities
BREAKING. Lyon’s management sought an adjustment to their opening Ligue 1 fixture against Toulouse FC, scheduled for August 22, to prioritize potential UEFA Champions League qualifying matches. Their request was declined.
Olympique Lyonnais (OL) resumed training on June 29 with their sights set on the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, scheduled for August 4 or 5 (first leg) and August 11 (second leg). Should they advance, Paulo Fonseca’s squad would face potential playoff matches in the following fortnight.
In anticipation of this scenario, Lyon’s hierarchy formally requested the French Professional Football League (LFP) to postpone their Ligue 1 opener in Toulouse, which falls on August 22—sandwiched between the Champions League playoff fixtures. Citing the precedent set by Paris Saint-Germain last season when similar accommodations were granted, OL emphasized the broader interests of French football to support their case.
LFP’s decisive response
The LFP’s governing board convened via videoconference on Monday evening and delivered a unanimous rejection of Lyon’s proposal. The primary rationale cited was the impracticality of an opening matchday with a fixture void, particularly as Ligue 1+ now broadcasts every match.