Impossible to find a solution for his semi-final of the Coupe de France. FC Versailles does not have an approved stadium for such a match. And the other Ile-de-France stadiums were unable or unwilling to welcome the Versaillese.
A great disappointment for the supporters. And the first punished are the young graduates of the club, like Maélie, 8 years old. “I’m sad because I wanted to see them play” explains the little girl, “but I won’t be able to go to Nice”. Maélie and her club buddies will have to watch the match on television. Just like adults who will not make the trip. Camille and her family are very disappointed of this decision. The mother of the family says she is very sad since she had read that the meeting was going to be played in Paris: “We were very happy to be able to see them again, but there, Nice, it’s impossible for us.”
Financing and a very complicated organization
For an amateur club like FC Versailles, playing a semi-final was not planned explains Youssef Chibhi, the coach of the National 2 club. “It’s very difficult in terms of human resources, financial resources” reminds the coach “if we wanted to have a great party, we had to be absolutely up to this event, and that was not the case”.
– Fany Boucaud
There will be at least one FC Versailles supporter in Nice: Brice will make the trip. Friends from Versailles who had already settled there welcomed him. He is happy to do the 900km which separate it from the Allianz Riviera stadium “Now we are 90 or even 120 minutes from the Stade de France to go to the final of this Coupe de France and create the feat.” And the restaurateur to add : “We will no longer need to ask ourselves the question of where to play next if we win our semi-final!”
The Versaillese will still be able to see the match on a giant screen at Place Notre-Dame on March 1.