The round of 16 of the Coupe de France will take place on January 2, 3 and 4, with the return of the anti-covid gauges for several matches. The executive has indeed announced that “large gatherings will be limited to one gauge” of “5,000 people outside”, from Monday January 3 for three weeks. In addition, the refreshments will have to close with the ban on “consumption of food and drink” in all the “sports equipments”, announced the Prime Minister.
The Hauts-de-France derby between Lens and Lille, subject to a gauge of 5,000 spectators, will be the main shock of this round, Tuesday January 4 at 9 p.m. RC Lens, who had requested the advancement of the match to January 2 to avoid the limitation, encountered the refusal of his opponent. The defending champion, the PSG, will surrender in Vannes (National 2) Monday at 9:10 p.m., again in front of a small audience.
Some matches taking place on Sunday, that is before the entry into force of this measure, should still be played in front of a limited audience. There will be 8,000 spectators to attend the round of 16 between US Chauvigny (N3) and Olympique de Marseille this Sunday at 9 p.m.
Numerous cases of Covid-19 in the workforce
All other matches will take place on Sunday afternoon, but the Covid-19 could be a spoiler. The draw reserved two other posters between Ligue 1 clubs with Brest-Bordeaux and Montpellier-Strasbourg. But Julien Stéphan, coach of Strasbourg, will not be able to accompany his team, positive for Covid-19.
Among the Girondins de Bordeaux, 21 Bordeaux players will be “unavailable for reasons related to Covid” against Brest. The package is therefore not to be excluded. The Cup health protocol established by the French Football Federation does not provide for postponement in the event of a cluster in a club, the latter being declared forfeit if it cannot align a sufficient workforce. To avoid getting there, this Friday, the FFF indicated to relax its regulations for the Coupe de France, by allowing the clubs in the running to draw more widely in their workforce.
Monaco, finalist of the last edition, and who has just sacked his trainer Niko Kovac, will surrender on the Quevilly-Rouen lawn (L2). Seven Monegasque players have tested positive for Covid-19.
Rennes, winner of the trophy in 2019, will travel to Nancy (L2). But according to the Team, several positive Covid cases have been identified in the Rennes workforce. The Stade de Reims will face the Thaon-les-Vosges club, a National 3 club.
Nice automatically qualified
Nice, who was to face the winner of the duel between Paris FC and OL, has already qualified for the round of 16, the two clubs having both lost “by penalty” after the incidents in the stands that occurred during the 32nd final.
Linas-Montlhéry (N3), faller from Angers (L2), will receive Amiens (L2), while AS Cannes (N3) will try to bring down Toulouse (L2) after having dismissed another second division club, Dijon. Bergerac (N2), who eliminated Metz (L1), will host Créteil (National).