PSG Cite Liverpool’s Hillsborough Anniversary in Push to Delay Lens Clash

Key Takeaways:

• Paris Saint-Germain have formally requested to postpone their Ligue 1 fixture at Lens, scheduled for Saturday, April 11
• Sporting Director Luis Campos argues the move is intended to benefit French football ahead of PSG’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Liverpool FC
• Postponement talks have arisen because UEFA avoided scheduling a Liverpool match on April 15 out of respect for the Hillsborough disaster anniversary

Background to the Postponement Request

Paris Saint-Germain Sporting Director, Luis Campos, has clarified the reasoning behind his club’s bid to reschedule their Ligue 1 encounter away at Lens, originally set for Saturday, April 11. While Lens have formally opposed altering the date of this fixture, the ultimate decision now rests with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) board, which is scheduled to convene on Thursday to issue a ruling.

🚨🚨🎙️| PSG Sporting Director Luis Campos justifies his side’s request to postpone their Ligue 1 game against Lens:

"Liverpool can’t play on April 15, we had to respect their history, because it's a tragic date for the club."

[@GFFN] pic.twitter.com/DyIvZLzFNd

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) March 25, 2026

PSG’s Perspective: Advocating for the Good of French Football

Campos explained to RMC that PSG’s motive is purely to ensure that the side has the optimal conditions to prepare for their Champions League quarter-final. He stresses that this is not just for PSG’s benefit, but for the broader interests of French football. “It’s about being in the best possible conditions to represent France well in Europe, which is necessary.” He further noted that France’s fifth place in the UEFA coefficient ranking could be under threat and that this justifies providing PSG with extra rest ahead of their European campaign.

The Champions League Calendar and the Importance of April 15

According to Campos, UEFA’s decision to avoid scheduling Liverpool FC for a match on April 15 – in memory of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster – impacted the calendar for PSG’s Champions League quarter-finals: “At first, we would have liked to play the UCL on Tuesday (April 7), then on Wednesday (April 15). But Liverpool can’t play on April 15 (which is the date of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster), we had to respect their history, because it’s a tragic date for the club.”

Next Steps

It is now up to the LFP board to deliberate and decide whether PSG’s Ligue 1 fixture at Lens should proceed as planned or be moved to a later date to accommodate their Champions League preparations.