French football has been plunged into controversy after Marseille’s league match against Paris Saint-Germain was postponed owing to severe weather conditions, Afrosport reports.
Ligue 1 announced the decision just few hours to kick-off at the Stade Vélodrome, with torrential rain and thunderstorms forecast across the region.
League regulations stipulate that postponed fixtures must be played the following Monday, and the LFP has confirmed that this rule will be enforced. As a result, the match – popularly referred to as Le Claissque – has been rescheduled for Monday, 22 September at 20:00 — the same evening as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
“Le Classique is postponed until Monday at 20:00pm,” the LFP said in a statement.
“Due to the severe weather conditions forecast for the Marseille region, the Olympique de Marseille-Paris Saint-Germain match has been postponed by decision of the Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhone. The match has been rescheduled for this Monday, September 22 at 8:00PM.”
The decision has fuelled heated debate, with reports suggesting Marseille pushed for the fixture to go ahead under the rules, while PSG resisted.
For the French champions, the clash of dates is awkward, with nine of their players nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Ousmane Dembele is among the frontrunners after inspiring their treble-winning campaign last season, though his current injury means he can still attend the ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
PSG manager Luis Enrique is also tipped to claim the Johan Cruyff Trophy for coach of the year. With Le Classique now fixed for the same night, the club face the unusual dilemma of juggling one of French football’s fiercest rivalries with their presence at the gala.
For Marseille, the insistence on playing the game as scheduled is partly practical. Delaying the fixture further would have compromised preparations for Friday’s Ligue 1 trip to Strasbourg, where both sides are targeting Champions League qualification.
Even so, Marseille supporters may quietly enjoy the disruption, with the rearrangement threatening to overshadow PSG’s night of celebration on and off the field.
