French Prime Minister has ruled out canceling PSG’s UCL clash with Barcelona due to ongoing unrest
France’s prime minister has ruled out canceling Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League game against Barcelona, despite escalating unrest across the country and growing scrutiny over how authorities handle the violence, Reuters reported.
The two sides are due to meet on Wednesday, October 21, with the game going ahead as scheduled. The government’s stance comes as French authorities face questions about public order Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted that the police had lost control of the situation in some major cities.
The unrest followed nationwide demonstrations against the rising cost of living and poor conditions in schools. More than half a million people took to the streets on Saturday, with most protests remaining peaceful before smaller groups torched and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities.
According to an Agence France-Presse report published by India Today, more than 2,500 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 security personnel were injured during the violence. Nunez acknowledged shortcomings in the police response, while President Emmanuel Macron rejected the interior minister’s resignation and ordered a review of security and intelligence failures.
The scale of the unrest has put pressure on the French government to restore order, although officials have indicated the disruption will not affect PSG’s scheduled European match against Barcelona.
The match is one of the most-watched fixtures on the Champions League calendar and the government’s stance signals it has no plans to change the schedule despite ongoing public safety concerns.
SHOPS MARSEILLE, LILLE OPENED
The unrest has also affected French football clubs off the pitch, with Ligue 1 sides Marseille and Lille reporting damage to their official stores.
Marseille said looters caused significant damage to its store on La Canebiere, one of the port city’s most famous avenues. The store was temporarily closed after the incident.
Meanwhile, Lille reported extensive damage and widespread looting at its downtown store. The club said the store will remain closed until further notice.
Lille also thanked its store staff and members of the public who offered to help in the aftermath, including passers-by who provided practical help and comfort.
The damage to both clubs’ retail outlets highlights the wider impact of the unrest on French football, even as the government says the PSG-Barcelona Champions League clash will go ahead as planned.
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