PSG-Barcelona to go ahead despite French unrest, prime minister says
A police union had called for a postponement after a weekend of violent riots. Prime Minister Lecornu and Interior Minister Nunez refused, and the match will be played Tuesday.
Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League match against Barcelona will go ahead as scheduled Tuesday at Parc des Princes despite severe unrest across France. The game will not be postponed, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Monday after a crisis meeting, Reuters and AP reported.
A spokesperson for the CFTC police union had called for a postponement, citing fears of fresh violence in Paris after the weekend riots. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez rejected the idea, saying the matches were not in doubt, including other European games in France such as in Lille. Lecornu instead asked authorities to impose partial, localized curfews in the hardest-hit cities, but ruled out a curfew for all of Paris.
The weekend violence also hit French soccer. Marseille said looters caused "significant damage" to its official store on La Canebiere, which has been temporarily closed, while Lille said its city-center store will stay shut until further notice after widespread looting. Barcelona arrived in Paris on Monday afternoon for the marquee game of the third round of the league phase against the defending champions.