In brief
Paris St-Germain will face Olympique Lyonnais at the Parc des Princes on Monday instead of Sunday after a 24‑hour postponement triggered by widespread protests across France. France’s state police are staging a major security operation for demonstrations, while an NFL game at the Stade de France and the Ballon d'Or ceremony add extra pressure on local authorities. The match was rescheduled to 20:30 on 26 October, leaving PSG in second place and Lyon top of the standings.
Paris St‑Germain’s Ligue 1 match against Lyon has been pushed back 24 hours to Monday as the French capital prepares for another weekend of protests.
Originally scheduled to kick off at 19:45 GMT on Sunday, the fixture at the Parc des Princes in Paris will now open at 20:30 on Monday, 26 October.
In a statement released Friday, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) announced the delay after French police banned the game on its original date.
Authorities are mounting a major security operation to guard against demonstrations planned for Saturday, following the record‑setting 550,000‑strong rally the previous week that called for lower fuel prices, better education and higher living standards.
The protests, backed by unions and student groups, spread across several major French cities and, in some instances, turned violent with looting and property damage.
Complicating matters further, the French capital will also host an NFL match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France on Sunday, an event that will require significant police presence. The stadium, located in Saint‑Denis, is just 10 km from Place de la Bastille where the protests are expected to commence.
The postponement is part of a broader reshuffling of France’s domestic football calendar, with Toulouse’s home clash against Troyes moved from Saturday to Sunday at the request of authorities.
In current standings, PSG sit second after seven matches, while Lyon lead the table on 14 points, ahead of the defending champions on goal difference.
In addition, the match will be played on the same day as the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. Both recently crowned winner Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, currently injured with PSG, remain in the running for the award.
