Ligue 1 postpones a crucial title clash to aid PSG's Champions League ambitions, sparking controversy and questions about league fairness and integrity
Although we are currently midway through the March international break, we will soon see PSG go through a very intense schedule ahead of the end of the 2025/26 season.
Although the team is out of the Coupe de France, there is an intense title race going on in Ligue 1, as well as the UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Liverpool.
It looked as if Luis Enrique's side were about to get the most intense week possible shortly after the break. The original schedule had the team playing the first leg against Liverpool, a top-of-the-table clash with Lens, and the second leg all in the space of six days.
As a result, PSG requested to postpone the away game against Lens, in the hope of having more time to prepare for the second leg against Liverpool. However, Lens was not willing to do this.
Nevertheless, despite the hosts' clear reluctance, Ligue 1 has decided to grant PSG's wish and postpone the game, giving the team a free week between the Champions League games.
As you'd expect, this has not gone down well, basically anywhere aside from those of a PSG persuasion. There are suggestions that the club can do whatever it wants, no matter who it inconveniences.
The game at Lens has now been rescheduled to 13th May, by which point it could no longer be a title decider. This would take place one week after a potential UEFA Champions League semi-final for Enrique's side.
Although this is good news for PSG and certainly helps the team's chances of progressing against Liverpool, it's a terrible look for the league and French football in general.
The rest of the world now sees PSG as a club that is being bent over for by Ligue 1 and the French governing bodies. Sure, it is in the interest of French football for their clubs to do well in Europe, but it needs to be done with class and respect for the game.
If the league wants to be taken seriously by other leagues and countries, this sort of thing has to stop. It does absolutely nothing to help the league's exposure. Fewer and fewer people will be interested in watching the league if they know certain teams have an advantage. But, well, we shall see.
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