Olivier Létang still hoping OM v Lille is postponed amid election-day risks | OneFootball

Olivier Létang still hopes for a postponement of OM v Lille, scheduled for 22 March at 17:15 in Marseille amid municipal election security concerns.

The LFP set an earlier kick-off in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Prefecture to anticipate potential unrest. According to L'Équipe, Lille are unhappy with that call.

He argued that if 20:45 was deemed too risky, a 17:15 start would still see his delegation leave the Vélodrome around 20:30 to 21:00, once early results are known. He said he asked the LFP board in advance to postpone, but the request was refused.

He believes the postponement question could return, as the calendar has since opened up.

Marseille were knocked out of the Coupe de France by Toulouse on four March, and Lille are no longer involved, so a date around the semi-finals on 21 and 22 April could work. Létang said the League had called a delay difficult, but OM’s elimination creates options.

The request was rejected by written consultation on five March, aligning with the police prefecture’s stance. The ministry judged 17:15 playable, public order rests with the authorities, and OM opposed a delay. Taken together, a postponement looks unlikely, and the conclusion was that there was no subject.

Source: L'Équipe