The situation of Olympique Lyonnais (OL) and that of Ligue 1 are inextricably linked. Despite an administrative demotion on 24 June, the French football authorities felt that a complete French championship could not take place without the presence of OL. This conviction was reflected in the discussions, as Jean-Pierre Caillot, president of the Reims, pointed out, who had considered the possibility of a return of Lyon to Ligue 1 due to the difficulties encountered by the club. OL’s action, including his appeal to the DNACG and the work of Michèle Kang’s teams, finally ensured his presence in the league, a positive step forward for the entire Lyon ecosystem and for the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP).

The LFP responded to this situation by officially launching its new championship retransmission platform, Ligue1+, and the management clearly expressed its wish to retain OL in its programme. This decision is reflected in the programming of an important match on the third day, on August 31 at 8:45 pm, between OL and Olympique de Marseille (OM). Nicolas de Tavernoust, boss of LFP Médias, expressed his satisfaction with the maintenance of the Paulo Fonseca team, stressing the importance of OL for the competitiveness of the league and the need for its presence in the Top 10.

This reintegration is seen as good news, even if OL’s financial difficulties are not fully resolved. OL’s presence, with its history, stadium and attractiveness, is considered essential for the prestige and competitiveness of the League 1. The LFP’s strategic choices early in the season are evidence of this recognition, and its absence would have been a blow to the league. In short, this situation illustrates the complexity of the stakes of French football and the importance of the survival of a club like OL for the balance of the whole.