Olympique Lyonnais seeks Ligue 1 match postponement, LFP denies request

Olympique Lyonnais is set to kick off its Ligue 1 campaign against Toulouse on August 22. The club had approached the LFP to reschedule this fixture, which was planned just days after a crucial Champions League playoff. However, the LFP has rejected this proposed alteration.

Anticipation of the new season brings with it the first disagreements between the LFP and Olympique Lyonnais. The Rhône-Alpes club, scheduled to face Toulouse FC on August 22 for the inaugural Ligue 1 matchday, formally asked the professional football league to move the encounter. Their rationale stemmed from the possibility that this league fixture could fall directly between the two legs of a potential Champions League playoff, should OL advance in the preceding round.

This presented a legitimate concern for the Lyon board, prompting them to dispatch a formal letter to the LFP outlining their request.

To bolster their case, OL invoked the precedent set by Paris Saint-Germain, emphasizing the broader interests of French football. Last season, the Parisian club had successfully secured several match postponements to ensure optimal preparation for its European commitments.

Potential Champions League playoff clashes with league schedule for OL

Consequently, the seven-time French champions fully expected a favorable response from the League, citing principles of fairness.

Yet, contrary to these expectations, the administrative council of the Ligue de football professionnel has reportedly dismissed the request. The governing body expressed reluctance to disrupt the Ligue 1 television broadcast schedule right from the very first matchday.

This decision marks an initial scheduling challenge for Paulo Fonseca‘s squad. The Gones will now face a demanding period at the end of August as they strive to secure qualification for the Champions League.