French league rejects olympique lyonnais’s match postponement bid

The request from Olympique Lyonnais (OL) was contingent on a specific scenario: their qualification for the UEFA Champions League play-off round. To reach the prestigious group stage of the Champions League, the Lyon squad must first navigate the third preliminary round, with matches scheduled for August 4 or 5 (first leg) and August 11 or 12 (return leg). Should they advance, the critical play-offs, the final hurdle before the Champions League proper, would follow, featuring an away leg on August 18 or 19 and a home leg on August 25 or 26.

The core issue lies in the scheduling of the opening weekend of Ligue 1, set for August 22. This date falls directly between the two pivotal play-off encounters. It was precisely to circumvent this demanding fixture congestion that OL had sought to delay their trip to Toulouse, arguing that a less strenuous calendar would significantly enhance their prospects of securing a coveted Champions League qualification.

Lyon’s management also presented a broader argument, asserting that Olympique Lyonnais’s presence in Europe’s elite club competition would yield substantial benefits for French football as a whole.

However, during its meeting this Monday, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) decisively rejected OL’s appeal. The governing body concluded that initiating the new Ligue 1 season with an already postponed fixture was undesirable, particularly given the championship’s full broadcast schedule on its recently launched platform.

Consequently, unless there are unforeseen calendar adjustments, Olympique Lyonnais will face an arduous week should they reach the Champions League play-offs. Their schedule would involve a crucial European match, an away Ligue 1 fixture in Toulouse, and then the return leg of their European play-off, all within a seven-day span.