PSG will play against Liverpool in next month’s Champions League (Image: Eddie Keogh – UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)
French side Reims have issued a firm statement expressing their determination not to postpone their match against Paris Saint-Germain. The Ligue 1 match is currently scheduled for April 11th, between the Champions League quarter-final matches against Liverpool FC.
The Reds secured a place in the last eight with a 4-1 aggregate win over Galatasaray in the previous round, and will now face PSG in a rematch. PSG are the same club that knocked them out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage last season. The first leg between Liverpool and PSG will be played at the Parc des Princes on April 8th, followed by the second leg at Anfield less than a week later on April 14th, with the winner progressing to the semi-finals. According to recent reports, PSG have formally requested French football’s governing body, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), to postpone the match against Reims and reschedule it to later in the season.
Earlier in the season, PSG made a similar request for their Ligue 1 match against Nantes, which was originally scheduled to take place between the Champions League last-16 match against Chelsea.
Liverpool are scheduled to play Fulham in the Premier League on April 11, the same day PSG are currently scheduled to play Lens in Ligue 1. Lens have now released a statement addressing the rumors and explaining why they are against rescheduling the match against PSG.
“On 6 March, the match schedule between Racing Club de Reims and Paris Saint-Germain has been finalized and officially agreed to by everyone. In the spirit of responsibility and restraint, Racing Club de Reims has informed Paris Saint-Germain of its intention not to change this date from its initial request.”
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“True to certain notions of sporting stability, the club had chosen to refrain from any public communication on this matter. However, a recent flurry of statements, interventions and various proposals has led us to move beyond this reservation.”
“Indeed, it seems to us that a worrying feeling is taking hold, that the French championship is gradually being relegated to the status of a moderating variable, depending on the whims of some people in Europe. It is a peculiar concept of sporting fairness, a concept whose equivalent is difficult to find in other major continental competitions.”
“Changing the date of this match today means that for Racing Club de Reims it will be deprived of competition for 15 days, followed by a match every three days. This does not fit into the rhythm set at the start of the championship, nor the club’s resources that can absorb new constraints of this kind without consequences.”
“Thus, it will be understood that the tenth budget of the Championship should be adapted to the demands of the most powerful powers, clearly in the name of interests that extend beyond the domestic framework, which has already been alleviated in recent seasons (L1 reduced to 18 clubs, Coupe de la Ligue abolished).
“Beyond this particular case, the issue being raised is more fundamental. It is a question of respect by the sport itself, because the championship itself can sometimes be forgiven for questioning itself, when it seems to be relegated to the background of other ambitions, no matter how legitimate.
“Racing Club de Reims remains committed to fairness, clarity of rules and respect for all stakeholders. We adhere to simple principles for a loyal and respected French football.”
