It is a story of lighting that stains in the city of the Sun King. This Friday, the French Football Federation, which organizes the Coupe de France, announced that the match between FC Versailles 78 (N2) and Toulouse FC (L2) is reversed. Understand by that, that the match planned at the Stade Montbauron in Versailles will finally be played at the Stadium in Toulouse.
In a press release, the Versailles club, despite a request for exemption, explains that this decision is due and justified, because the Montbauron stadium “does not meet competition standards, especially in the absence of lighting”.
No lighting so as not to disturb the king
For the first round of 16 of the Coupe de France in its history, FC Versailles was delighted to receive a professional club, but everyone at the club knew the lighting was going to be a problem.
The Montbauron stadium has not always had lighting. Why ? The explanation was confirmed to us at the town hall. It comes from a decree which indicates “that no source of light should be visible from the king’s chamber, within a radius of five kilometers.”.
Basically, at the time, the architect of the Buildings of France did not want external light sources that interfere with the tranquility of the castle and its surroundings.
Currently in the race for the rise in national (3rd division), FC Versailles 78 will have, with the town hall, to find a lasting solution for the lighting, because the high level requires lit stadiums.
No stadium available in the Île-de-France region
Before accepting to play in Toulouse, the leaders of the Versailles club nevertheless sought to be loaned or rented a stadium in the region. “After having studied all the possibilities to organize this meeting as close as possible to Versailles, the club encountered many difficulties of organization and management of such a meeting.”.
Information taken, the Versailles club surveyed the availability for the Charléty stadium in Paris as well as the Jean Bouin stadium, but the two speakers will, this weekend of January 29-30, 2022, host women’s football and rugby events.
The round of 16 of the Coupe de France between Toulouse and Versailles will therefore be played on Saturday January 29 at 4:15 p.m.