The integrity of Ligue 1 is in query, as Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have formally proposed to Ligue 1 that their league sport towards title contenders Lens be postponed.
In actuality, that is now extra of a dispute, and the one instantly calls into query the credibility and integrity of the league below excessive scrutiny, as it’s now about PSG’s European aggressive facet and Lens’ name for truthful play.
This inflammatory resolution is now very a lot concerning the league bending its rules and construction, and giving in to the monetary energy play of an organisation.
PSG and Ligue 1 Develop Ugly Antics?
Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain formally proposed transferring their sport to a later date in Could to permit sufficient relaxation for his or her Champions League tie towards Liverpool after worldwide obligation.
This has obtained backlash, as it isn’t the primary time PSG has proposed such a factor. They efficiently proposed such a factor towards Nantes a few weeks in the past, earlier than the second leg tie of the spherical of 16 towards Chelsea, regardless of holding a 5:2 win on the Parc des Princes.
Le Parisians at the moment are making an attempt the identical trick for his or her Champions League tie towards Liverpool to make sure the squad has sufficient relaxation for his or her second-leg tie at Anfield towards the present Premier League champions.
For context, that is extra of PSG making an attempt to undermine and downplay the competitiveness of Ligue 1, and it brings its integrity into query right here as PSG is prioritising the Champions League over Ligue 1, and the LFP can be caught in it, not simply attributable to coefficient spots within the UCL but additionally for the monetary causes right here.
PSG are additionally making an attempt to go far within the UCL, and, in line with this BBC article, UCL semi-finalists get £13M and a complete of £45.3M for profitable the UCL event, with that portion from the knockout, excluding group video games.
This proposal didn’t sit effectively with Lens, who has launched an official assertion.
Lens Assertion!
In response to the official assertion on X by Lens, they clearly oppose the proposal from the Ligue 1 champions and are interesting to the LFP to go away the fixture as is quite than postpone it.
“It does certainly seem to us {that a} troubling sentiment is taking maintain: that of a French championship steadily relegated to the standing of an adjustment variable on the whim of the European imperatives of some. A singular conception of sporting fairness, the equal of which is tough to search out in different main continental competitions.”
Their assertion additionally states that the league is at the moment being degraded attributable to PSG’s priority within the Champions League and requires truthful play, arguing that the league ought to be handled simply as saliently because the Champions League by PSG.
The second side of truthful play right here is that Ligue 1 is giving in to the requests of PSG, who’re financially dominant over the remainder of the league.
Lens’s Ligue 1 marketing campaign can be being handled right here with levity, which is on the expense of them probably profitable the league, as it is a title-deciding fixture.
Lens additionally made point out of not partaking in any league match for 15 days, which is able to lead to a fixture congestion later, inside the span of three days, which is detrimental to their season, as Lens are at the moment having, undoubtedly, a prolific season as they sit in second place, one level behind Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, who even have a sport in hand.
Lastly, Lens additionally famous that the sort of fiasco doesn’t happen in different European leagues, as though Mainz is enjoying towards Freiburg after Strasbourg, Mainz’s and Freiburg’s match isn’t postponed due to Mainz’s Convention League tie, though the calendar permits such a factor.
Personally, I clearly facet with Lens right here, as they’ve clearly been topic to unfair sporting and monetary selections, and that is additionally beginning to appear like a standard theme in French soccer.
Widespread Theme?
Earlier this season, PSG’s tie towards Nantes was postponed attributable to PSG’s UCL spherical of 16 towards Chelsea.
The Parisians additionally did that final season towards Nantes within the build-up to the UCL quarter-finals towards Aston Villa, which they received within the second leg.
Marseille additionally did so two years in the past, as their league sport towards Good was postponed attributable to Marseille’s Europa League quarter-final towards Benfica. Marseille’s then-president, Pablo Longoria, thanked the league for displaying consideration to the French groups concerned.
Strasbourg have additionally proposed a match suspension of their league sport towards Brest with a view to support their preparation for his or her UEFA Convention League quarter-final tie towards Mainz.
LFP verdicts!
In response to GetFootballNewsFrance, Lens supervisor is extremely expectant of the League to provide in to PSG’s calls for, and a last verdict can be introduced on Thursday
A number of shops have reported that, below Article 22, Ligue 1 has the facility to vary the fixture schedule, no matter whether or not Lens disagrees with the choice.
If granted by LFP, which it most certainly can be, Lens must play PSG and Lyon inside three days within the last week of Ligue 1.
Briefly, it’s a battle over whether or not the integrity of France’s closest title race in years ought to take a again seat to PSG’s Champions League ambitions, and the choice rests with the league authorities.
