Lens refuse PSG postponement bid as Ligue 1 faces scheduling row ahead of Liverpool tie

Paris Saint-Germain have asked Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) organisers to move their Ligue 1 match at Lens, with the northern club publicly rejecting the request and warning against domestic fixtures being treated as a “variable” to suit European runs.PSG want the April 11 game at Stade Bollaert-Delelis shifted because it sits between the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Liverpool in Paris on April 8 and the return at Anfield on April 14.Lens, PSG’s closest challengers in the title race, have argued the match should stay put, positioning the dispute as a test case for how Ligue 1 balances the commercial and sporting interests of clubs in UEFA competitions with the integrity of the domestic calendar.Lens head coach Pierre Sage said: “We do not agree. We also had a French Cup match scheduled on a Thursday and then had to play again on Sunday, so we know what a tight schedule looks like.”In a club statement, Lens said they had informed PSG early that they did not want the date changed, adding that altering the fixture would leave them without a match for around two weeks before forcing a more congested run of games. Lens also questioned why Ligue 1 should adjust for European priorities, calling for “equity”, clear rules and respect for all stakeholders.The match is viewed as one of the decisive fixtures in the run-in, with Lens sitting a point behind PSG, who have a game in hand, and chasing a first league title since 1998.The LFP has previously allowed PSG schedule relief during this season’s Champions League campaign, after a league match against Nantes was postponed to provide extra recovery time around a European tie, a decision that drew criticism from Nantes supporters.The issue has widened beyond PSG, with Strasbourg also requesting a postponement for a league fixture that falls between their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final matches, underlining a broader debate about whether Ligue 1 should institutionalise greater calendar flexibility for clubs competing in Europe.A decision on PSG’s request is expected from the LFP board later this week.