"A Worrying Sentiment" – Lens Opposes PSG Request to Reschedule Crucial Ligue 1 Clash

Paris Saint-Germain’s request to reschedule their Ligue 1 fixture against RC Lens on April 11 has been opposed. PSG had approached league authorities seeking a new date to allow more preparation time for their upcoming Champions League quarter-finals against Liverpool FC.

PSG are scheduled to play Liverpool in the first leg of the European tie shortly before the Lens match and will travel to Anfield for the return leg on April 14. With domestic and European commitments falling within a tight schedule, the club asked for the league match to be moved.

Lens Oppose Fixture Change

Lens confirmed in a statement that they were not in favour of altering the fixture date. The club suggested that domestic competitions should not be adjusted to accommodate European schedules.

“In a spirit of responsibility and restraint, Racing Club de Lens made it clear to Paris Saint-Germain, from the very first enquiries, that it did not wish to see this date changed...,” Lens said in a statement.

“It seems to us, in fact, that a worrying sentiment is taking hold: that of a French league gradually being relegated to the status of an adjustment variable at the whim of certain parties' European imperatives.”

The club added that the issue raised broader concerns about the importance of the domestic competition schedule.

League Authorities Reviewing Request

The Ligue de Football Professionnel confirmed that PSG had formally requested the postponement and that the matter falls under the authority of French football officials. Strasbourg have also reportedly made a similar request regarding their league fixture due to European commitments.

A source close to PSG said fixture changes are decided by the league authorities in line with competition regulations and fairness between clubs.

“Any changes to the fixture list fall exclusively within the remit of the French football authorities, in accordance with the rules in force and the principle of fairness between clubs,” the source said.

PSG had earlier received approval for a schedule change this season to prepare for a European knockout tie, but the latest request has met resistance due to the competitive situation in Ligue 1, where PSG and Lens are separated by just one point.