New date for Marseille-PSG game

AFP - 29 October 2009 14:10

Paris´ Ludovic Guily runs with the ball during the French Cup match against Montlucon at the Gabriel Montpied stadium in Clermont-Ferrand, January 2009. The Professional League (LFP) confirmed that the French league match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain that was postponed due to an outbreak of swine flu at PSG at the weekend has been rescheduled for November 20.

PARIS (AFP) - The French league match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain that was postponed due to an outbreak of swine flu at PSG at the weekend has been rescheduled for November 20, the French Professional League (LFP) confirmed on Tuesday.

The new date "suits both clubs as well as television rights holder Canal+," the LFP said in a statement, adding that Marseille and PSG's scheduled league matches for November 21 against Sochaux and Boulogne respectively would now take place on December 2.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps said that November 20 had been the best solution offered.

"Different dates were proposed which we refused, notably at the beginning of January when four players will be at the African Nations Cup and on November 22, three days before or trip to Milan for the Champions League, which for me was unthinkable," said Deschamps.

In light of their Champions League match against Real Madrid on December 8 the club will however be requesting that their game against Sochaux be pushed further back.

Last Sunday's match was the first in France at senior level to be cancelled due to swine flu after PSG confirmed that midfielder Ludovic Giuly, defender Mamadou Sakho and midfielder Jeremy Clement had contracted the illness.

There had been fears that two other squad members had symptoms.