Paris Saint-Germain’s controversial request to postpone their crunch Ligue 1 game against Lens has been granted by the Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP).
PSG asked for the game, originally scheduled for April 11, to be rearranged as it fell in between the two legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
The defending European champions argued that if they got through, it would boost France’s coefficient and enhance the country’s hopes of getting four places in the competition next season.
The motion was passed unanimously by the LFP board this morning due to a desire to “defend the interests of French football more than that of individual clubs”.
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PSG v Lens will now take place in May
PSG currently top the table by a point from Lens with the Parisians also having a game in hand. The meeting between the top two will now take place on Wednesday, May 13, as will the game between Brest and Strasbourg, who are in the quarter-finals of the Conference League.
The decision is sure to infuriate Lens, who argued long and hard that the game should be played in April.
A club statement earlier this week read: ”Beyond this specific case, the question raised is a more fundamental one: that of the respect due to the competition itself.
“For one is entitled to wonder when, on its own soil, the league sometimes seems to be relegated to second place behind other ambitions, however legitimate they may be.”
Not unusual for Ligue 1 games to be switched
The LFP’s decision is in line with previous examples of clubs requesting domestic games be called off.
PSG’s league game with Nantes, in between the round-of-16 tie against Chelsea this month, was rescheduled and Luis Enrique’s side took full advantage, winning 8-2 on aggregate.
It is unlikely Liverpool will be pleased with the rearrangement of the Lens game, either. Arne Slot’s side face Fulham at Anfield on April 11 and that game will not be switched.
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