Match Rescheduling Due to Weather
The highly anticipated matchup between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, set for this weekend, has been rescheduled to Monday evening because of severe weather warnings. Organizers announced that heavy storms, expected to impact the region, led to the decision to postpone the derby.
Conflict with the Ballon d’Or Ceremony
The new timing of the match now coincides directly with the prestigious Ballon d’Or award ceremony, taking place at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. A number of PSG’s star players, including standout contender Ousmane Dembélé, were set to attend the awards, where he is recognized as one of the top candidates for the coveted men’s Ballon d’Or trophy. However, the overlapping schedules mean Dembélé will have a tough decision to make between the derby and the award event.
Reactions and Implications
PSG’s president recently expressed strong opinions regarding the situation, suggesting that voters would be deemed ‘incompetent’ if Dembélé did not secure the award.
This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony carries significant weight following last year’s event, which faced controversy when Real Madrid’s players chose to skip the ceremony owing to Vinícius Júnior’s exclusion from consideration for the top honor, which ultimately went to Manchester City’s Rodri. This time, the official recognition of PSG’s Champions League triumph in May and their European Super Cup victory in August adds an extra layer of drama to the event, even as it competes with a major sporting fixture.
