Lyon refuses to postpone Toulouse-OL match

LFP decision rejected

On August 20, Lyon kicks off its Ligue 1 season in Toulouse at 20:45. Coach Paulo Fonseca and player Corentin Tolisso requested the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) to postpone the match to prepare the team for the Champions League playoffs against Fenerbahçe. The request was denied, sparking a strong reaction during Friday’s press conference.

Alleged unequal treatment, according to the Lyonnais

Fonseca and Tolisso denounced a “two-weight, two-measure” system. They point out that last season the league had allowed the Lens-PSG match to be postponed to favor Paris for the Champions League. “We are living in very selfish times,” Fonseca said.

Voices from After Foot

During the After Foot on RMC, Walid Acherchour and Daniel Riolo highlighted the difference in treatment. Acherchour supported Fonseca and Tolisso’s position, while Riolo reminded that financial stakes outweigh sporting logic. He added that if French football must help its clubs in European Cups, it cannot prevent Lyon from postponing a match.

Reform of French football governance

Riolo mentioned the ongoing reform of French football governance, adopted in the Senate in July. The text aims to allow federations to create their own commercial company to handle cases instead of the current leagues such as the LFP.

European context

Lyon drew 0-0 in Turkey against Fenerbahçe last week. The return leg is scheduled for Wednesday next week at 21:00 at the Groupama Stadium. If qualified, OL would become the fourth French club to play the Champions League group stage this season. PSG is already secured, as are Lens and Lille.

Reactions and prospects

Lyonnais feel slighted by the LFP’s decision, which seems to favor clubs with higher financial stakes. Whether the LFP will apply the same logic to other clubs remains open, but for now, OL must play in Toulouse as scheduled.

Concrete detail

The return against Fenerbahçe is set for 21:00 on the following Wednesday at Groupama Stadium, where OL hopes to qualify for the Champions League group stage.