France – football/H1N1 flu

Paris-Marseille rivalry put on hold as PSG players sick with flu

Article published on the 2009-10-26 Latest update 2009-10-26 10:10 TU

Olympique Marseille fans are repelled by tear gas as police separate them from Paris St Germain fans at the Saint Charles train station in Marseille, 25 October 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Fans on both sides of the biggest rivalry in French football took to the streets in disgust Sunday after the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) – Olympique Marseille (OM) football match was cancelled after three PSG players were pulled from the roster after falling ill with the H1N1 flu.

Paris players Ludovic Giuly, Mamadou Sakho and Jérémy Clément were reported to have fallen ill with the flu, and two others players were under observation with symptoms. The game was cancelled early Sunday evening, only hours before it was scheduled to start.

Riot police were deployed on the streets of Marseille between groups of rowdy fans from both clubs. An estimated 2,000 people had driven from Paris for the big match, and only discovered the last-minute cancellation upon arrival.

Police were already anticipating trouble, warning fans not to display PSG paraphernalia in their cars to avoid any trouble en route.

OM manager Didier Deschamps proposed replaying the match Wednesday, saying it would be too difficult to find a convenient date later on.