The Olympique de Marseille–Paris Saint-Germain clash, the marquee matchup in French soccer, was suspended Sunday as a precaution following an orange-level flood alert across southeastern France. On Saturday afternoon, authorities had already warned of the risks of playing after heavy rains pounded the south of the country. On Sunday, after a meeting, the Professional Football League (LFP) decreed that Le Classique would be postponed.
When will Olympique de Marseille–Paris Saint-Germain be played?
Regulations stipulate that the match must be played the following day, but that creates a problem, since the Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday in Paris. The suspension has put the French league in a difficult spot, with few available dates to reschedule the game.
The rains, absent for most of the weekend, had concentrated on Sunday afternoon in Marseille, lasting from midday well into the night, casting doubt on whether the game could be played under normal conditions. Weather forecasts ahead of the game were bleak, and the Professional Football League had remained cautious in recent hours, waiting for the expected storms to arrive in Marseille and the Vélodrome area.
Orange alert puts paid to Le Classique
On Saturday at midday, an orange alert was issued — one of the highest levels of weather warnings for rainfall. Authorities urged residents to stay vigilant throughout the day, and by Saturday night the game was already in jeopardy.
The Marseille–PSG showdown, then, will have to wait. It now remains to be seen whether the LFP will strictly apply its regulations, which state that the match must be played the day after postponement. The complication is that Monday, September 22, is the Ballon d’Or gala in Paris, and many Paris Saint-Germain players had planned to attend. In the coming hours, the Professional Football League will have to announce the new date.