PSG President Robin Leproux & Marseille Counterpart Jean-Claude Dassier Feud Over Postponement

Not the best of friends at any time, tensions are rising between Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain over Sunday's postponement...

Oct 26, 2009 3:53:45 PM

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Robin Leproux - PSG chairman

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The president of Paris Saint-Germain, Robin Leproux, has moved to distance himself from the controversial postponement of Sunday night’s scheduled Clasico fixture against Olympique de Marseille due to swine flu.

Les Parisiens were concerned that a number of their players had been struck down by the H1N1 virus and warned the Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP) never to state that the weekend fixture was definitely on. However, the LFP released a statement on Saturday evening that declared the game was still going ahead as usual. A decision was taken to call off the fixture on Sunday lunchtime.

“We were asked to go to Marseille, where we reported the results of Ludovic Giuly and Mamadou Sakho,” he told the club’s official website, speaking of two of the players confirmed to have come down with the illness. “We went to Marseille to play and win this game.

“On Saturday again, I expressed reservations, as we awaited the results of Jeremy Clement. We also wanted to wait and see the status of the players upon waking.

“What I regret, and I also told the president of the LFP [Frederic Thiriez] this, is that on Saturday at 13:00, the LFP, through a statement, asserted that the meeting would maintained.

“I told him to be careful, because we lacked evidence as to the result of Jeremy Clement’s test. I told him to be more cautious and not tell the PSG supporters categorically that the match would be on.”

The infected members of staff, who now total five, including four players, are said to be doing “Ok as far as possible with the flu”.

Since Leproux made his comments, Jean-Claude Dassier, president of OM, has hit back. Speaking to radio station RMC, he raged, “I don’t see why they brought Jeremy Clement down in an aircraft. Why did he come down with the owner if he is sick? We cannot say the explanations of Robin Leproux are very convincing!

“On Sunday I think public safety was more important that public health. The excessive precautions led to an incomprehensible and irresponsible decision – there were serious incidents for hours in the streets of Marseille.”

A tempest is also on the horizon as OM and PSG try to come to an agreement as to when to play this fixture, as les Phoceens already face a packed schedule.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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