Soccer-PSG-Lyon match likely to be postponed amid unrest, say media reports


A member of law enforcement stands guard at Place de la Republique during a nighttime curfew following unrest over the weekend, in Paris, France, October 21, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor

Oct 21 (Reuters) - Paris St ⁠Germain's Ligue 1 match against Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday could ⁠be postponed after the Paris police prefecture raised security ‌concerns amid ongoing nationwide unrest, French media reported on Wednesday.

According to the reports, the police prefecture has asked the French Professional Football League (LFP) to reschedule the fixture, ​which is due to be played in ⁠Paris on Sunday.

Sports daily ⁠L'Equipe reported that the match could be moved to Monday, although no ⁠official ‌decision has been announced.

French officials will mount a "massive" security operation for protests planned on Saturday, with troops reinforcing ⁠police, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday, after ​rioting and looting ‌swept through Paris and other French cities on October 17.

The ⁠PSG-Lyon game ​is among several high-profile sporting events scheduled in the French capital area this weekend.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are due to face the New Orleans Saints ⁠in an NFL regular-season game at the ​Stade de France on Sunday, an event expected to require a significant police deployment.

Separately, Toulouse's Ligue 1 home match against Troyes has already ⁠been pushed back from Saturday to Sunday at the request of local authorities, the LFP said on Wednesday.

The violence last weekend, some of the worst unrest France has suffered in years, followed ​weeks of largely peaceful student protests and wider ⁠demonstrations over the cost of living and declining public services. French ​authorities imposed curfews in parts of several ‌cities on Monday.

Reuters has contacted PSG, ​Lyon, the LFP and the Paris police prefecture for comment.

(Reporting by Vincent Daheron and Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru)

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