With the Ligue de Football Professionnel already under pressure from scheduling conflicts, Olympique Lyonnais approached the governing body to request a postponement of their August 22 Ligue 1 opener against Toulouse. The proposed delay aimed to ease a congested calendar, particularly if the club advances in the UEFA Champions League playoffs.

Under manager Paul Fonseca, Lyon is set to face a third qualifying round with a first leg on August 4 or 5 and a return on August 11. Should the club progress further, Champions League playoffs would demand two midweek fixtures, sandwiched between league commitments. This request mirrors earlier pleas from Paris Saint-Germain and Strasbourg during the spring campaign. However, the LFP has firmly declined Lyon’s proposal.

Ligue 1 opener remains unaffected

The LFP’s administrative board convened via video conference on Monday evening to deliberate Lyon’s request and ultimately rejected it, as reported by leading sports outlets. The governing body emphasized its commitment to maintaining an uninterrupted Ligue 1 schedule from the season’s first matchday. Notably, next season’s French top flight will be exclusively broadcast on Ligue 1+.

Should Lyon qualify for the Champions League playoffs, their players will face the challenge of balancing European commitments with the Ligue 1 opener in Toulouse, requiring careful logistical planning.