LFP rejects Lyon’s bid to delay Ligue 1 opener at Toulouse | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, the LFP has rejected Lyon’s request to postpone their Ligue 1 opener at Toulouse on Saturday 22 August, sought to keep the squad fresh for a possible Champions League play-off.

OL returned to training on 29 June to be ready for the Champions League third qualifying round, scheduled for 4 or 5 August for the first leg and 11 August for the second.

If Paulo Fonseca’s side advance, the play-offs would follow in the middle of the next two weeks. The Toulouse match would therefore fall between the two legs of any such tie.

Lyon’s letter to the league asked that the opening round trip be moved, stressing the request would apply only if they qualified for the play-offs. They argued the wider interest of French football, a route used by PSG several times last season.

The professional league’s board met by videoconference on Monday and voted against the appeal. One key reason cited was the reluctance to start with a hole in matchday one when Ligue 1+ will broadcast every game.

Source: L'Équipe