Lyon’s management approached the LFP with a request to reschedule their inaugural Ligue 1 fixture against Toulouse, slated for Saturday, August 22nd. The club aimed to ensure optimal preparation for a potential Champions League play-off round, but their appeal was ultimately unsuccessful.
Olympique Lyonnais commenced their pre-season training on June 29th, with a clear focus on the upcoming third qualifying round of the Champions League. These crucial matches are scheduled for August 4th or 5th for the first leg, and August 11th for the return fixture. Should Paulo Fonseca’s squad advance, they would then face the play-off rounds, which are set to take place during the subsequent two weeks.
With this demanding schedule in mind, and explicitly stating that the request would only become active upon their qualification for the play-offs, Lyon’s leadership formally petitioned the LFP. Their letter sought a postponement for their opening Ligue 1 match, an away game against Toulouse on Saturday, August 22nd, which would directly fall between the two legs of a potential Champions League play-off. Drawing a parallel to Paris Saint-Germain’s similar requests in the previous season, OL emphasized the broader interests of French football to bolster their argument.
The governing body’s decision arrived later that evening, confirming a negative outcome. During a video conference held this Monday, the Administrative Council of the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) formally voted to reject Olympique Lyonnais’ application. A key justification cited for this refusal was the perceived impracticality of initiating the Championship season with a fragmented first matchday, especially considering that Ligue 1+ is now set to broadcast every single fixture.
