After the Ligue 1 opener between Olympique Marseille and Saint-Etienne was postponed due to four COVID-19 cases, the LFP’s Competitions Commission has said that the Bordeaux’s clash with Nantes will be brought forward to Friday to make it the first match of the Ligue 1 Uber Eats season.
The Marseille clash, which was initially scheduled as the Ligue 1 opener for the 2020-21 season, had to be postponed after four coronavirus tests returned positive at Marseille.
According to the governing body, this was agreed by the clubs and the broadcaster. The Girondexu Bordeaux and FC Nantes clash was initially scheduled for Saturday 22 August 2020 at 17:00. It will now be played at 19:00 on Friday, 21 August 2020, at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux.
The LFP has expressed appreciation to both clubs for their understanding and ability to adapt to the sudden change of schedule.
Football action will be returning to the domestic front in France since the 2019-2020 season was canceled, and the title awarded to Paris Saint-Germaine after leading with 12 points with ten games left. The LFP awarded the title to the Paris club base on a point per game basis.
The committee further stated that in the communication of Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday 18 August, the national COVID commission had informed the LFP’s Competitions Commission that the dreaded virus is circulating within Marseille.
The protocol for the organization of matches made by the LFP’s Competitions Commission states that once there are four positive cases, the game will be postponed.
This has therefore affected the match between Olympique de Marseille and AS Saint-Etienne, and it has been moved to Wednesday 16 or Thursday 17 September 2020 by the time the team would have completed its quarantine process. The match will also be subjected to the evaluation of health conditions at Marseille, and the final date will be determined in agreement with the match broadcaster.
It was gathered that index cases at Marseille include former Aston Villa defender Jordan Amavi, who had tested positive last week and three other players after the latest round of testing.
Marseille had canceled a friendly against VFB Stuttgart in the wake of Amavi’s positive test.
Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed
