Liverpool FC will play Paris Saint-Germain on 9 April in Paris, and 15 April at Anfield in UEFA Champions League Quarter Final action. In between though, the reigning French and European champions will visit second place RC Lens in Ligue 1. Just one point separate the two teams, although PSG have a game in hand.
Similar to what they did before facing Chelsea when PSG had their game against Nantes moved to have five days rest before facing the Londoners, they have put in a request with the Ligue de
Football Professionnel (LFP) to postpone their game against Lens.
This isn’t exactly new. La Liga clubs have actually benefited from over the years, with their governing body moving fixtures to enable their clubs to do better in Europe. However… delaying a top of the table clash feels like a different matter altogether. Indeed, Lens have voiced their opposition to the request. In a statement released on Monday, they said:
“In a spirit of responsibility and restraint, Racing Club de Lens made it clear to Paris Saint-Germain, from the very first enquiries, that it did not wish to see this date changed…”
“It seems to us, in fact, that a worrying sentiment is taking hold: that of a French league gradually being relegated to the status of an adjustment variable at the whim of certain parties’ European imperatives.”
“A peculiar conception of sporting fairness, for which it is difficult to find an equivalent in other major continental competitions.”
Lens’ statement also said the dispute raised wider questions about the status of domestic competition:
“Beyond this specific case, the question raised is a more fundamental one: that of the respect due to the competition itself. For one is entitled to wonder when, on its own turf, the league sometimes seems to be relegated to second place behind other ambitions, however legitimate they may be.”
Well, five days rest or not, the Reds will have a big task ahead of them.
