Organisers have confirmed that the highly anticipated Le Classique against Marseille has been rescheduled to Monday night due to forecasts of severe storms in southern France, potentially resulting in several of Paris Saint-Germain’s biggest names being absent from the Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The change creates a major scheduling headache for PSG, as the match will now clash with the Ballon d’Or ceremony at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet, where several of the club’s top players are expected to be honoured.
Among them is Ousmane Dembélé, widely regarded as a top contender for the men’s Ballon d’Or after helping PSG secure the Champions League in May and the European Super Cup in August.
Nine other PSG players have been nominated for awards, making the Parisian side the most represented club on the shortlist.
However, with the game now kicking off at the same time in Marseille, players may be forced to prioritize the derby over football’s most prestigious individual awards.
PSG boss Luis Enrique is already without Dembélé and rising star Désiré Doué for the match due to injury, meaning the pair may still be able to attend the ceremony if they choose.
Due to an orange alert for heavy rain, flooding, and thunderstorms in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, home to the Vélodrome, officials have postponed Sunday’s fixture to mitigate safety risks.
The scheduling conflict between club duty and the glitzy football awards ceremony comes a year after Real Madrid boycotted the 2024 event in protest of Vinícius Júnior being overlooked for the top prize, which was awarded to Manchester City’s Rodri. This time, PSG’s potential absence would be due to a fixture reshuffle rather than a protest.
About the Author
