Protests postpone PSG‑Lyon duel, Ballon d’Or stars stay at home
Due to planned mass demonstrations in France, the Ligue 1 clash between Champions League winners Paris Saint‑Germain and Olympique Lyon is being moved from Sunday to Monday, while the nominated stars of Paris Saint‑Germain, including title defender Ousmane Dembele, will not be able to attend the Ballon d’Or gala in London, as already confirmed by the LFP.
The LFP announced that the police had prohibited the match from taking place on Sunday. In a statement it read: “The LFP acknowledges the police decision that bans the game between Paris Saint‑Germain and Olympique Lyon on Sunday.” The match at the Parc des Princes will now be played on Monday at 20:30.
Because of the postponement, the many PSG nominees, especially Ousmane Dembele and coach Luis Enrique, will not be able to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday at 19:00 in London. The decision affects both players and the coaching staff and reduces the presence of French stars at the awards ceremony.
Security situation in France
The measure follows nationwide riots and violent incidents last weekend. Further protests in Paris and other parts of the country are expected, which is why authorities need sufficient security forces for public order. The police have closed the stadium to prevent possible clashes. The Parc des Princes is located in the 16th arrondissement, near the Saint district.
PSG match postponed, causing stars to miss Ballon d’Or ceremony
This match is already the fourth duel that has been postponed this weekend in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2. Authorities aim to prevent further fixtures from being affected by the unrest, thereby safeguarding the competition in the top two leagues.
On the same Sunday, the first NFL game in France will also take place: the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet the New Orleans Saints at 14:30 in the Stade de France. The event marks the historic entry of the American football league into the French sporting scene.
Ballon d'Or forces PSG to postpone their clash with Lyon
Interestingly, Paris Saint‑Germain already missed the Ballon d’Or gala in 2025 because the duel against Olympique Marseille had been postponed to the day of the ceremony due to heavy rain. At that time as well, weather conditions led to a match postponement that prevented participation in the awards ceremony.