Olympique Lyonnais is set to commence its Ligue 1 campaign on August 22 against Toulouse. The club had formally approached the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) requesting a rescheduling of this fixture, which was slated to occur just days after a crucial Champions League playoff. However, the LFP has rejected this proposed alteration to the calendar.
Tensions between the LFP and Olympique Lyonnais appear to be surfacing even before the season’s official kickoff. With their inaugural Ligue 1 fixture against Toulouse FC scheduled for August 22, the Lyon leadership formally petitioned the professional football league for a postponement. The primary justification for their request was the potential for this match to fall directly between the two legs of a critical Champions League playoff, should OL successfully advance from the preceding qualifying round.
Considering this a valid concern, the Lyon board conveyed its request to the LFP through official correspondence.
To bolster their argument, Olympique Lyonnais invoked what they termed “PSG jurisprudence,” emphasizing the broader interests of French football. The Parisian club had previously been granted multiple fixture postponements last season, allowing them ample preparation time for their significant European commitments.
Potential playoff clash for OL amidst league schedule
Consequently, and appealing to principles of fairness, the seven-time French champions confidently anticipated a favorable response from the League.
However, in an unexpected turn, the LFP’s Administrative Council has denied this request. The governing body stated its unwillingness to disrupt the Ligue 1 television broadcast schedule, especially as early as the opening matchday.
This decision marks an early scheduling challenge for Paulo Fonseca‘s squad. The Gones will now face a demanding late August period as they strive for a coveted spot in the Champions League.
