Daniel Riolo Criticizes Ligue 1 for Favoring PSG Over FC Nantes

Paris, March 2026 – The recent rescheduling of a Ligue 1 match has sparked controversy among football enthusiasts and commentators. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has been granted a favorable fixture change to aid their UEFA Champions League campaign, leading to criticism from some quarters.

PSG’s strategic date shift

PSG will now face FC Nantes in April, a move designed to give the Parisian club more recovery time between their crucial Champions League clashes against Chelsea FC, scheduled for March 11 and 17. This decision, approved by the Professional Football League and FC Nantes, aims to bolster PSG’s European ambitions.

Criticism from the punditry

On a recent episode of the sports talk show After Foot on RMC Sport, journalist Daniel Riolo expressed his disapproval of the arrangement. He argued that the club agreeing to this change has effectively “shot itself in the foot,” compromising its own interests for the benefit of PSG.

Nantes faces a compact schedule

Nantes is now staring at a congested calendar, with three matches slated for the same week in April. Riolo cautioned that this could be detrimental, especially as Nantes battles to maintain its Ligue 1 status with a squad that may not be equipped to handle such a demanding schedule.

“It’s admirable to support our teams in European competitions, but not at the expense of your own interests,” Riolo asserted, condemning what he perceives as Ligue 1’s submissive stance towards PSG. He emphasized that by consenting to this postponement, FC Nantes could be incurring significant sporting risks to benefit a rival.