PSG vs Lyon has been moved to Monday after police raised security concerns in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 clash against Lyon has been postponed by a day following security concerns raised by the police, with the match rescheduled for Monday 26 October.

The match was originally scheduled to take place at the Parc des Princes on Sunday at 20:45 local time. However, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) confirmed on Friday that the match will now be played on Monday at 20:30 at the behest of the Paris Police Prefecture.

The decision comes as French authorities prepare for another weekend of protests in the capital. Demonstrations follow a a wave of rioting and looting that swept through Pariin other French cities on October 17, prompting concerns about public safety and the deployment of security personnel.

“The LFP takes note of the order issued by the police prefecture banning the PSG-Lyon match… on Sunday, October 25 at 8:45 p.m. and has decided, in agreement with Ligue 1+, to postpone the match to Monday, October 26 at 8:30 p.m.,” the league said in a statement.

SECURITY CHALLENGES

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said earlier this week that authorities would launch a “massive” security operation for the demonstrations planned for Saturday, with units to reinforce police personnel.

The situation also drew attention to Sunday’s NFL regular-season game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, about 10 kilometers from the Place de la Bastille, where protests are expected to begin. The game marks the NFL’s first regular season game in Paris and is expected to require a significant police presence.

US President Donald Trump expressed concern over the incident on Friday, suggesting the NFL may have postponed the game due to the situation in France. Meanwhile, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he believes the league would cancel the game if it deemed the situation dangerous.

The unrest has already disrupted France’s domestic football calendar. Toulouse’s Ligue 1 home game against Troyes has been moved from Saturday to Sunday at the request of the local authorities. Marseille and Lille also reported that their official stores were looted during last weekend’s violence.

THE BEST CONNECTION OF THE TABLE

The postponed fixture remains an important encounter in the early Ligue 1 title race. Lyon lead the table after seven matches with 14 points ahead of reigning French and European champions PSG on goal difference.

The clash will also take place on the day of the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. PSG striker Ousmane Dembele, the 2025 winner, and team-mate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are among the candidates, although both players are struggling with injuries.

With security concerns reshaping the weekend sports schedule, the league moved one of its biggest games to Monday, allowing authorities to focus on planned demonstrations and other major events in the Paris region.

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