Lyon, France – Jean-Michel Aulas, the former president of Olympique Lyonnais and current candidate for mayor of Lyon, found himself navigating a particularly challenging week, blending the disappointment of his former club’s Europa League exit with the high stakes of the upcoming municipal election runoff. Aulas, who secured 36.78% of the vote in the first round, trailing incumbent Grégory Doucet’s 37.36%, attempted to turn a football setback into a political advantage, a move that sparked immediate backlash from supporters of the club.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Olympique Lyonnais was eliminated from the Europa League by Celta Vigo on Thursday, a result that stung fans after the team had topped their group stage. Aulas, speaking to Le Progrès, acknowledged the challenging match, citing an early red card to Moussa Niakhaté as a significant factor. “It was a difficult match for OL because the numerical inferiority from the start was difficult to compensate for,” he said. However, he quickly pivoted to a remark laced with political undertones: “But they defended well. Celta Vigo is a very fine team, they are fifth in La Liga. Sometimes, you have to know how to lose a match on Thursday to win on Sunday.”
The “Sunday” he referenced is, of course, the second round of the Lyon mayoral election, scheduled for March 22nd. Aulas is attempting to unseat Grégory Doucet, who is now facing a unified opposition after Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi of La France Insoumise (LFI) joined forces with the incumbent. This alliance, which Aulas has derisively labeled an “alliance of shame,” has significantly altered the political landscape.
Backlash from the Stands
Aulas’s attempt to connect the football club’s misfortune to his political ambitions was met with swift and harsh criticism online. Supporters of Olympique Lyonnais expressed outrage on social media, accusing him of exploiting the team’s defeat for personal gain. Comments ranged from accusations of opportunism to outright condemnation of his lack of respect for the club and its fans. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “This coward will stop at nothing,” while another lamented, “The shame, the disrespect for a club that put him on the map.” A particularly blunt comment predicted, “The poor man lost on Thursday and he will lose on Sunday.”
The reaction highlights the delicate balance Aulas faces in separating his roles as a political candidate and a figure deeply associated with Olympique Lyonnais. For decades, he was the face of the club, building it into a dominant force in French football. However, that legacy now appears to be a double-edged sword, as any perceived exploitation of the team’s struggles risks alienating a significant portion of the electorate.
A Campaign Under Pressure
Aulas entered the mayoral race as the perceived frontrunner, buoyed by his name recognition and a campaign focused on issues like traffic congestion, declining city center commerce, and public safety. He received endorsements from the Les Républicains party and members of the presidential camp, a coalition that was fractured in the 2020 election. However, his momentum stalled, and he ultimately finished just behind Grégory Doucet in the first round.
The fusion of the LFI list with Doucet’s has further complicated matters for Aulas. He has criticized the alliance, but it has undeniably strengthened his opponent’s position. Adding to his challenges, Aulas recently canceled a planned debate with Doucet, a move that drew criticism and accusations of avoiding scrutiny. Reports suggest he struggled in previous debates, leading to the decision to withdraw.
The situation underscores the increasingly competitive nature of the Lyon mayoral race. What began as a seemingly straightforward path to victory for Aulas has transformed into a tight contest, where every vote counts. His attempt to leverage the football club’s Europa League exit, while perhaps intended as a clever political maneuver, appears to have backfired, further fueling the narrative of a campaign under pressure.
For Olympique Lyonnais, the focus now shifts back to domestic competition. Corentin Tolisso and his teammates will look to rebound from their European disappointment when they face Monaco in a Ligue 1 match on Sunday afternoon (15:00 local time). The match offers a chance for redemption, both for the team and, potentially, for their former president, as he seeks to translate a sporting recovery into political gains.
The outcome of both the football match and the mayoral election remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the intersection of sport and politics in Lyon is proving to be a compelling and often unpredictable drama.
Next Up: The second round of the Lyon mayoral election takes place on Sunday, March 22nd. Follow Archysport for continued coverage of the election and Olympique Lyonnais’s Ligue 1 campaign.
