Labrune, Oughourlian clash as LFP board unanimously delays Lens v PSG | OneFootball

On Thursday morning, the LFP board unanimously approved postponing Lens v PSG, initially set for 11 April. According to L'Équipe, the vote followed a tense exchange between Vincent Labrune and Joseph Oughourlian.

Originally wedged between PSG's Champions League quarter-final legs against Liverpool on eight and 14 April, the game will now be played on 13 May if Paris reach the semi-finals. If not, it is set for six May, with 29 April ruled out due to Lens's Cup schedule.

Strasbourg also secured a delay, with Brest v Strasbourg on 12 April moved as their Conference League quarter-final against Mainz falls on nine and 16 April.

Lens opposed the change and were heard at the start, but failed to sway the room, which backed protecting clubs in Europe. The LFP board holds the power to decide even if a club objects.

Oughourlian said the switch would skew Lens's calendar and that PSG's quarter-final was foreseeable. Parrot argued it undermined Lens's season, while Labrune defended a long-standing policy and likened France's stance to Portugal and the Netherlands in a fight for fifth place.

During the back-and-forth, Labrune noted Oughourlian had previously backed such measures, while Oughourlian retorted about talk of a Big Five and TV rights.

Source: L'Équipe