Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has officially requested to postpone their highly anticipated Ligue 1 match against FC Nantes, set for the weekend of April 12-13, 2025. The request is primarily influenced by PSG's commitment to their Champions League quarter-finals against Aston Villa, which take place on April 9 and April 15, 2025. This request has created tension between the two clubs, as FC Nantes firmly opposes the change.
PSG proposed rescheduling the match to either April 22 or April 23, 2025, following their Champions League fixtures. While PSG is focusing on advancing through the Champions League, FC Nantes finds the potential postponement problematic. According to reports from Ouest-France, the secretary-general of FC Nantes, Loïc Morin, articulated the club's strong opposition to this request. He emphasized the financial and organizational challenges they would face should the postponement be approved.
Morin stated, "If we are the first supporters of PSG in the Champions League, we cannot accept sacrificing our end of the season for our Parisian friends." He pointed out the intense struggle for survival within Ligue 1, asserting they cannot allow the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) to compromise the fairness and integrity of the league by altering match schedules. The request, if granted, would force Nantes to endure 15 days without playing, then immediately face three matches within just one week: against Rennes, PSG, and Toulouse.
Morin's letter, sent on March 14, 2025, aims to persuade the LFP board members to reject PSG's postponement request. "Saying yes to PSG's request would force us to play three matches in one week after being idle for fifteen days," he stated. He argues this scenario is untenable due to the high stakes involved at the end of the season and the financial and logistical consequences of such changes. Various commercial aspects and previously scheduled events for the fans would also be affected, along with the potential impact on the women's team match against Olympique Lyonnais.
While PSG contests its matches with the hopes of advancing, Nantes believes it is unjust to change match timelines based on one team's aspirations. Morin expressed confidence, asserting, "We are convinced PSG will advance past the Champions League quarter-finals without needing to compromise the fairness of the league’s conclusion." He also referred back to last season's experience when PSG's match against OGC Nice was postponed before two encounters with Borussia Dortmund, which did not help PSG avoid being eliminated.
The situation is now returned to LFP's hands, which must decide whether the match can be delayed or if both clubs will have to adhere to the original schedule. PSG's appeal reflects their ambition and competitive nature within Europe’s elite football sphere, but it also raises questions about equality and schedule integrity within the French league. This case will undoubtedly serve as a benchmark for how the league balances the two sides of its operations: domestic competition and international duties.
With both teams having strong stakes at play - PSG seeking continued success on the continental stage and Nantes fighting for survival - the outcome of this scheduling dilemma will have broad ramifications. The LFP's decision will quite literally chart the course of these clubs as they push through this competitive season.