Paris Saint-Germain’s home Ligue 1 game against Montpellier on Saturday has been postponed after a request from police in the French capital, the club said on Tuesday.
The match was due to be played at 4:00 pm (1500 GMT) at the Parc des Princes but will be rescheduled to a later date because of security concerns.
“In order to be able to mobilise all the security personnel forces at its disposal in direct connection with the possible demonstrations that will take place in Paris on Saturday, December 8, the prefecture of police has obtained, with the full agreement of the Professional Football League (LFP) and Paris Saint-Germain, the postponement of the game initially scheduled for this Saturday,” the Paris prefecture told AFP.
It is one of two games scheduled for Saturday in the French top flight to be called off, with authorities in Toulouse also requesting that the local team’s game against Lyon that evening be called off.
Paris has been the scene of protests for three weekends running from “yellow vest” demonstrators unhappy at planned fuel tax rises, but unrest has spread across the country.
Demonstrations turned particularly violent last Saturday, with 412 people arrested after the worst clashes in central Paris for decades.
However, the French government backed down on Tuesday, with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe saying the planned increases in the price of fuel would be suspended for six months.
PSG are 14 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 after seeing their perfect record this season ended in a 2-2 draw at Bordeaux on Sunday.
They play Strasbourg away on Wednesday, but the postponement of Saturday’s game gives them extra time to prepare for next week’s crucial Champions League trip to Red Star Belgrade.
“Honestly I don’t know if it’s good or not,” said PSG coach Thomas Tuchel when asked if the postponement would benefit his side.
“For me it is absolutely clear, security has to come first.”
AFP
