The long soap opera will end with a happy ending.
The Coupe de France will be able to go this season at the end of its 104th edition, unless there is a big worsening of health conditions in the coming weeks.
The question had been pending since the end of October with the end of competitions at the amateur level.
But the government, which had been in discussions with the French Federation since the end of last week, accepted the idea of sanctuarizing all the Coupe de France matches from the amateur table, with the establishment of a PCR test to screen the Covid-19, 48 hours before the meetings, and results known the next day.
“In order to guarantee the continuity of professional sporting activity which remains authorized by the government, this hybrid competition bringing together amateur and professional clubs is therefore authorized to resume in strict compliance with the protocol validated by the health authorities.
The Ministry in charge of Sports therefore authorizes amateur clubs engaged in the 2020/2021 edition of the Coupe de France to resume collective training this week after a mandatory PCR test for all players with a view to resuming on the 30th and 31st. January ”, indicates the ministerial press release.
Pros and amateurs will meet for the round of 16
In order to catch up in the competition, the FFF adopted on December 17 a modification of the formula with two tables, one for the pros (15 qualified) and the other for the amateurs (17 qualified).
As for the amateurs, the teams evolving from the National (3rd division) to the departmental level, qualified for the 6th round, will continue their course between themselves.
The 7th round will pit the 124 metropolitan clubs from the previous round, then the 8th round will see the 62 remaining clubs oppose each other.
Finally, the 32nd finals will bring together the 31 qualified from the previous round, plus the 3 overseas representatives (Martinique, Guyana and Mayotte).
This amateur draw will qualify 17 teams for the round of 16.
After playing on their own, amateurs and pros will come together in the round of 16 at the beginning of March.
To respect the very tight schedule, amateur clubs must therefore compete in all rounds by the end of February.
This should start with the 3 late matches of the 5th round (including Le Mée - Red Star for the Ligue de Paris-Ile-de-France) on the weekend of January 30 and 31.
Then the 6th round should take place on the weekend of February 6-7, then the 7th round on February 13 and 14 and the 8th round on February 20 and 21.
Finally, the 32nd finals would be played on the last weekend of February (27 and 28).
"The Coupe de France represents a financial interest for the federation
(Editor's note: revenues are around 40 million euros)
and also for amateur clubs," said Philippe Lemaître, the coach of JA Drancy (N3) who will face FC Parisis (D1) in the 6th round.
We will be happy to be able to play football again in this magical competition.
Now I hope all amateur clubs can really do the PCR test.
"
