RC Lens have firmly turned down a request from Paris Saint Germain to reschedule their crucial Ligue 1 title showdown, citing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the domestic league.
The match, scheduled for April 11 at Lens’ home ground, falls between PSG’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal fixtures against Liverpool FC. PSG requested a postponement to ease fixture congestion, but Lens rejected the proposal, emphasizing fairness and competitive balance.
Lens warned that altering the fixture would leave them inactive for over two weeks before a series of games every three days, stressing that such a schedule is unsustainable for a club with limited resources compared to PSG’s financial strength. “Cing the date of this match today would mean that Lens would be deprived of competition for 15 days, followed by matches every three days,” the club stated.
The Ligue 1 authorities are expected to make a final decision on Thursday. Lens stressed that the league should not be relegated to accommodating the European ambitions of individual clubs, calling for respect toward the competition itself.
This scheduling conflict follows previous instances where PSG benefited from fixture adjustments, such as a postponed match against FC Nantes during their Champions League ties with . Lens, however, insists that fairness requires equal consideration for all clubs regardless of financial power.
The outcome may set a precedent for how domestic leagues balance European commitments with national competition, with other clubs like RC Strasbourg Alsace reportedly facing similar fixture challenges.
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