Paris Saint-Germain have been given permission to delay their Ligue 1 title clash that falls between their two Champions League quarter-final matches against Liverpool.
The LFP approved PSG’s request to move their fixture against RC Lens, originally scheduled for April 11. This means PSG will now benefit from a full week of preparation between both legs of their European tie.
The first leg is set for April 8 in Paris, while the return leg will take place at Anfield on April 14. Meanwhile, Liverpool won’t enjoy the same advantage, as they are due to face Fulham in the Premier League on April 11.
The decision has sparked controversy, especially since the LFP recently allowed Strasbourg—linked to Chelsea—to postpone their match against Brest to focus on a Conference League quarter-final against Mainz.
This has intensified debates in France about fairness within domestic competitions. Lens, who are closely chasing PSG in the title race, publicly criticized the decision. They currently trail PSG by one point, albeit having played an extra game.
In a strongly worded statement, Lens suggested that smaller clubs are being forced to accommodate the demands of more powerful teams, raising concerns about respect for the league’s integrity. They also questioned whether the domestic competition is being sidelined in favor of European ambitions.
As a result of the postponement, Lens now face a long break without matches—since they are not involved in European competitions—before entering a congested end-of-season schedule with games every few days.
This is not the first time PSG have had fixtures moved to aid their Champions League campaign. Earlier this month, the LFP adjusted the schedule to give them more rest ahead of a last-16 tie with Chelsea. Last season, their match against Nantes was also postponed during a quarter-final clash with Aston Villa.
Such repeated decisions have raised questions not only about the fairness of Ligue 1 but also about the Champions League, where PSG—managed by Luis Enrique—are the current title holders
