FC Versailles (National 2) formalized, Tuesday February 15 at the end of the afternoon, the inversion of the semi-final of the Coupe de France which will oppose it to Nice, March 1 (9 p.m.). The amateur club, little thumb at this stage of the competition, had to resolve to this solution “Faced with the many constraints related to the organization and security of such an event”, specifies FC Versailles in a press release.
[#Communiqué] – Information relating to the match of #French Cup facing the@ogcnice.https://t.co/BEdEWBsA5Q
– FC Versailles 78 (@FCVersailles78) February 15, 2022
This is not the first time that the Yvelinois have been forced to travel for a Coupe de France match with professionals when the regulations provide for the opposite. The Yvelinois had already had to go to Toulouse for the round of 16. Indeed, the Montbauron stadium, the club’s enclosure, does not meet Federation standards in terms of lighting. And renovations are impossible due to heritage protection rules vis-à-vis the Palace of Versailles.
The Yvelinois therefore tried, in vain, to find a stadium close enough to offer this semi-final to their supporters. PSG refused their request to play at the Parc des Princes, due to lawn maintenance work. The club was also offered the help of Troyes, Lens and Paris FC, which it had to refuse for organizational issues, in particular.
[#CoupeDeFrance] – It’s better to do it in public, isn’t it? Hello @PSG_inside, do you have room at the Parc des Princes at the beginning of March? This is for friends… https://t.co/HKNRCBjbCS
– FC Versailles 78 (@FCVersailles78) February 10, 2022
Faced with this impasse, the leaders of FC Versailles have “decided to respond favorably to OGC Nice’s proposal to play this prestigious match on their premises”. A decision motivated by “very advantageous travel, reception and organizational conditions”according to the press release.
Official programming of the 2 semi-finals of the #French Cup
See you on March 1️⃣ and 2️⃣
All info https://t.co/65aR13aSzA pic.twitter.com/t0YoHklXOu
– French Cup (@coupedefrance) February 15, 2022
Reason for hope for the people of Versailles Youssef Chibhi, who, during their trip to Toulouse had achieved the feat of overthrowing the leader of Ligue 2. “We will do everything to thwart the predictions, as in Toulouse and Périgueux, achieve a new feat and qualify for the final of the Coupe de France”concludes the club.