Unsurprisingly, the Professional Football League has decided to postpone the clash between RC Lens and PSG. Despite the Sang et Or’s refusal at the start, the governing body of French football granted the request of the reigning French and European champions, who will be able to afford a little more rest than expected between their two Champions League matches against Liverpool.
For many, this decision undermines the principle of sporting fairness, while the two clubs concerned are engaged in a fight for the title of champion of France (Lens finds itself playing nothing between April 4 and 19, and will have to play three matches between May 8 and 16). The possible “title match” will therefore be held on Wednesday May 13, like Brest – Strasbourg, also postponed to allow Strasbourg to best prepare for their Conference League quarter-final against Mainz.
“We have to fight for our place in the Champions League”
In its press release, the LFP justified this decision by its desire to see French football maintain its 5th place in the UEFA index. According to RMC Sportthis was also the tone of the remarks made by Vincent Labrune during the board meeting this morning: “everyone has audible positions. I want to respond to Joseph (Oughourlian): Spain, etc., do not do it (postpone championship matches) because the four Leagues are so far ahead in the standings that they have their place guaranteed in the Champions League.explained the boss of the LFP.
Image generation in progress
“We are not in this situation and we must fight for our place in the Champions League”“, he concluded. During the CA, Karl Olive also supported this decision to preserve the interests of European clubs: “we have always protected our clubs involved in European competitions. (…) Behind a club, there is much more than just a match to manage. There is the image of our championship, the credibility of Ligue 1 and, ultimately, the influence of French football on the European scene. Today, Paris Saint-Germain’s request is fully in line with this approach. This is not a favor, but a question of consistency”. Not sure that this argument will gain general support.
