Lens Claims Trophee des Champions as LFP Faces Backlash Over Venue Choice

Lens edged out Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-0 win to capture the Trophee des Champions at Stade Bollaert. The decisive goal came from Florian Thauvin, securing victory for the Sang et Or despite being down a player for a significant part of the match.

Venue Decision Sparks Heavy Criticism

The French football governing body, LFP, attracted strong backlash after choosing Lens' home ground as the venue. This move contradicts the established rule requiring the Trophee des Champions to be played at a neutral stadium.

Unbalanced Crowd Creates Heated Debate

The choice to host the match at Stade Bollaert gave Lens a notable edge. Reports indicate that approximately 95% of attendees supported Lens, while only around 1,850 tickets were available for PSG fans in the away section. The atmosphere resembled a typical home game for Lens rather than a neutral showcase.

The LFP intensified the controversy by allowing Lens’ usual pre-match and halftime entertainment to proceed, which further emphasized the home advantage.

Organizational Failings Highlighted

This arrangement sharply contrasts with the previous year’s Trophee des Champions where PSG faced Toulouse at Parc des Princes. In that event, the LFP ensured an even 50-50 split of supporters and maintained a neutral setting.

The recent issues follow earlier disagreements involving PSG and Lens, including a postponed fixture. Notably, neither LFP president Vincent Labrune nor PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi attended the match at Bollaert.

Looking Ahead

While Lens enjoys their trophy, the dispute over the venue selection shadows the LFP’s reputation. The governing body now faces mounting pressure to reconsider how future editions are hosted, especially regarding fairness and adherence to neutral venue rules.

• Next Ligue 1 Fixtures:
• 22 Aug 2026, 17:15: Auxerre vs AJALigue 1
• 23 Aug 2026, 20:45: Rennes vs PSG