A “total heresy”. Vincent Ponsot, general director of Olympique Lyonnais, does not mince his words as the playoffs of the French women’s championship approach. His coach Sonia Bompastor and his players have been following him for months on this line, which all of Lyon finds unfair.
However, it was Jean-Michel Aulas, head of women’s football at the French Football Federation (FFF) and former president of OL, who was one of the initiators of this new formula, decided in spring 2023, in collaboration with the broadcaster Canal +.
A rarity in football
The stated goal? “We wanted to reform the competitions to ensure that D1 Arkema is even more attractive,” explained Jean-Michel Aulas in April 2023. A point which also appealed to the broadcaster, which thus offers itself two more weekends to deliver high-stakes matches and finals to its subscribers, an effective formula in Top 14 or Pro D2 rugby. But in football, with the exception of a few championships like in the United States or Belgium, the playoffs are a rarity.
The situation for this season is as follows: OL concluded the regular season in first place with 11 points ahead of PSG, 19 points over Paris FC and 26 points over Stade de Reims. For this “Final Four”, two advantages are entrusted to it: a semi-final against the 4th (Reims) and at home; the other half being the Parisian derby between the 2nd (PSG) and the 3rd (PFC) at the Parc des Princes. Another point for OL: they will also receive, whatever happens, in the final or in the “small” final.
Crowned champion 16 times over the last 17 seasons (an exception with PSG in 2021), Lyon would have already obtained a new coronation without these playoffs. But this time, he can lose everything this Sunday, in 90 minutes against Reims. Or even worse.
“In terms of fairness, it’s special”
“OL (…) may not be European next season if they lose their two playoff matches, which is total heresy. There are other solutions than putting everything at stake over two matches to have more competitiveness in French women’s football”, regretted Vincent Ponsot this Friday in Progress.
“These playoffs are very strange culturally,” Sonia Bompastor continued at a press conference this Friday. All the work put in this season will help us, but from an accounting standpoint, we erase everything. This is unprecedented. In terms of fairness, it is particular but we adapt, as very often. This can generate frustration especially for us, OL. » Whereas, inevitably, for PSG, Paris FC or Reims, the opportunity to overthrow the hierarchy is unprecedented or almost.
Winner of the Coupe de France last Saturday, PSG hosts its Parisian rival at the Parc des Princes this Saturday, May 11 (9 p.m.) with the enormous pressure also of validating this ticket for the next Champions League. Paris FC aims for the same objective. For Reims, which travels to Lyon on Sunday May 12 (5 p.m.), the stakes are lower as its qualification for these playoffs was unexpected.
The two finalists will qualify directly for the European Cup while the third will have to go through a play-off round. See you on May 17 for the finals.
