Women’s football: “Unfair in relation to meritocracy…” Olympique Lyonnais does not accept the play-off formula in D1 Arkema

The Olympic women considered on Friday that the establishment of playoffs in D1 to award the national title was unfair, a formula with decisive matches that could deprive the Rhone club of qualification for the Champions League. However, Lyon is the leader with eleven points ahead of PSG (2nd) and must face Reims (4th) on Sunday (5pm) at the Groupama stadium in the semi-finals.

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“Our goal is to finish as champions. These playoffs are very strange culturally. All the work put in this season will help us, but from an accounting point of view we erase everything. It’s unprecedented. In terms of fairness, it’s special, but we adapt, as very often, it can create frustration especially for us, the Olympics”, lamented coach Sonia Bompastor at a press conference. For his part, the general director Vincent Ponsot also insisted on the “unfair side when it comes to meritocracy”.

“There are other solutions…”

“Olympic are eleven points ahead of second place, 26 points ahead of fourth place and could not only lose the title but not be European next season if they lose their two play-off games, which is a “total heresy. There are other solutions than putting everything on the line during two games to get more competitiveness in French women’s football, he said in the columns of the daily Le Progrès on Friday.

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“There was a working group this year where the vast majority of clubs decided against the principle of play-offs. Adjustments are planned for next season in terms of European qualification, but the position of the clubs is therefore not sufficient, the manager continued. The top four in D1 compete in the semi-finals which will pit Lyon against Reims (4th) and Paris SG against Paris FC (3rd).

The two finalists are qualified for the Champions League as well as the winner of the match for 3rd place. Lyon must also play the Champions League final on May 25 in Bilbao against FC Barcelona.