Officials rescheduled the PSG and Lyon match to Monday because of planned protests and security concerns in Paris.
Officials delayed the Ligue 1 match between Paris St-Germain and Lyon by one day. The game will now take place on Monday night. This change follows safety concerns in the French capital.
The league organization, known as the LFP, announced this decision on Friday. Local police banned the original Sunday kickoff time. They want to avoid conflicts during a busy weekend.
Authorities are preparing for large demonstrations across Paris this Saturday. Many citizens plan to protest high fuel prices and living costs. Similar rallies last week involved over half a million people.
Also, some previous marches turned violent. Participants caused looting and property damage in several major cities. Police must now focus their resources on maintaining public order.
Meanwhile, a professional football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints adds pressure. This event takes place at the Stade de France on Sunday. It requires a massive police presence nearby.
Next, the city of Saint-Denis will host the American football game. This location sits near the planned start point for the protests. Security teams must manage both events carefully.
However, this is not the only game affected by the unrest. Officials also moved the match between Toulouse and Troyes. It will now happen on Sunday instead of Saturday.
As a result, the PSG versus Lyon game now overlaps with the Ballon d'Or ceremony. This award event takes place in London on the same night. Several star players are candidates for the trophy.