One of the most anticipated fixtures of the Champions League season will go ahead as planned. Paris Saint-Germain's Tuesday-night clash with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes will not be postponed or cancelled despite the violent protests sweeping France, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed on Monday, brushing aside calls from a police union to move the match amid security fears.
The decision came after an emergency meeting with top government officials, at which ministers discussed calling off planned public events. "This does not apply to tomorrow's match between PSG and FC Barcelona," Nuñez said, according to the Associated Press. Speaking to French newspaper Onze Mondial, he was even blunter: "There is no question of postponing the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, or other matches that may be held in the Champions League. The matter is settled."
A police union wanted the match moved
The fixture — the pick of the third round of the Champions League's league phase — had been cast into doubt after a weekend of protests descended into what French media described as some of the worst street violence in recent years. More than 2,000 people were arrested as demonstrations that began peacefully over education grievances and a teacher shortage turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces, vandalism, looting of hundreds of businesses and buildings set ablaze across the country, including in the capital.
Amid the fallout, a representative of a French police union affiliated with the CFTC confederation publicly called for Tuesday's match to be postponed, fearing fresh unrest in the capital around a fixture expected to draw thousands of supporters. The government held firm. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, speaking after the same crisis meeting, also confirmed there were no plans to cancel the game or change its kick-off time, with Paris police classifying the fixture as low risk and the club maintaining a large exclusion zone around the stadium's surroundings.
Curfews, not a state of emergency — for now
The match decision forms one part of a government scrambling to reassert control. Lecornu told reporters he had asked regional prefects to impose "partial" and "localised" curfews in cities to protect businesses, a step short of the state of emergency he said could be declared "if necessary." He ruled out putting the whole of Paris under curfew: "These curfews must be local and partial. It is out of the question to put all of Paris under curfew."
President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, has admitted "failures in planning and intelligence" behind the violence — an admission Chronicle covered earlier today — and asked Nuñez to stay in his post after the interior minister offered his resignation on Sunday, ordering him "to take all necessary steps to ensure full transparency" about the security failures. Nuñez himself conceded police had "lost control" in certain areas, citing "a lack of anticipation."
European football's biggest night of the week
On the pitch, the fixture needs no extra selling. PSG, the reigning European and French champions, arrive fresh off an eye-catching 4–2 win over Manchester City at the Etihad in the previous round, and their players trained at the Campus Paris Saint-Germain in Poissy on the eve of the match. Barcelona, meanwhile, are dealing with defensive setbacks but remain one of the favourites in the competition. Lille's Wednesday home tie against Galatasaray will also go ahead as scheduled, Nuñez confirmed, even though the northern club reported its shop was looted and smashed over the weekend.
Asked about the crisis engulfing his country, PSG manager Luis Enrique kept his focus narrow: "I am not the person to ask about the topic. I am here to talk about football. Of course, we don't like this kind of violence."
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the PSG vs Barcelona match still going ahead?
Yes. The Champions League league-phase match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will kick off as scheduled on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France's interior minister and prime minister have both confirmed, and the kick-off time is unchanged.
Why was the match at risk of postponement?
A weekend of protests across France — initially over education grievances and teacher shortages — turned into some of the worst street violence in recent years, with over 2,000 arrests, looting and clashes with police. A representative of a French police union called for the fixture to be postponed over security concerns, but the authorities rejected the call.
What security measures is France taking during the unrest?
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked prefects to impose "partial" and "localised" curfews in affected cities to protect businesses, and says a state of emergency could be imposed "if necessary." A full curfew across Paris has been ruled out. Paris police have classed the PSG–Barcelona fixture as low risk, with a large exclusion zone around the Parc des Princes.
Are other European fixtures in France affected?
No. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that Lille's home match against Galatasaray on Wednesday will also go ahead as scheduled. Marseille, Lyon, Rennes and Lens all play away in their European fixtures this week.
