Once again, Versailles will play at the opponent’s. The Coupe de France semi-final between Versailles (N2) and Nice (L1) will take place on Tuesday March 1 in Nice at 9:00 p.m., the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday. This decision puts an end to the uncertainty that reigned since the victory of the Yvelines club in the quarter-finals against Bergerac. FC Versailles, whose stadium is not approved for this stage of the competition, tried to find another stadium in Ile-de-France. But without success.
Versailles first tried to rent the Parc des Princes but PSG refused. The Stade de France, a time considered, turned out to be too expensive. As for the Charléty stadium, this possibility has been ruled out for security reasons. These three stadiums are the only ones approved by the FFF to host a Coupe de France semi-final. Faced with this impasse, Versailles then considered the Bollaert stadium in Lens, before finally accepting the offer of OGC Nice to play at the Allianz Riviera.
Consequence of the programming of these semi-finals of the French Cup, the 26th day of Ligue 1 is modified. Nice, who were to play on Sunday February 27 in Strasbourg, will travel to Alsace the day before, on Saturday February 26 at 5 p.m.
No home game since the Round of 16
The Yvelines club has already traveled a lot since the start of this Coupe de France. The Versailles have played only once at home since the round of 16. The fault at the Montbauron stadium (7,500 seats) which is not approved for the competition. Indeed, it does not have lighting due to its proximity to the Palace of Versailles. A municipal decree indicates “that no source of light should be visible from the king’s chamber, and this, within a radius of five kilometres.”.
The Yvelines club therefore played the round of 16 in Toulouse. Then moved to Périgueux for the quarter-final against Bergerac. And it is therefore a new trip that the Versaillese are preparing to make in Nice on March 1. To finally play in Ile-de-France, it will be necessary to win this match to play the final at the Stade de France on May 8th.