Damaged pitch forces PSG to switch season opener

What the report says

Paris St-Germain have had to relocate their Ligue 1 season opener after the Parc des Princes pitch was judged to be in poor condition following a period of extreme heat. BBC Sport reported that the French champions were due to host Rennes in Paris on Sunday, but the game will now be played in Rennes instead after league officials said the surface was too damaged to meet acceptable safety standards.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel said its assessment found conditions at the stadium would not allow the match to go ahead without risking players’ physical integrity. PSG said they understood the disruption and described the situation as exceptional. The club added that the pitch at the Parc des Princes will be replaced before their next home fixture against Monaco on 4 September.

The move comes after a summer of exceptional heatwaves in France, with BBC Sport noting that temperatures in Paris reached almost 41C in late June. The report also said Rennes finished sixth last season and qualified for the Europa League, while PSG won the title by six points. More broadly, extreme weather has affected football pitches elsewhere in Europe this summer, including a separate case involving Celta Vigo in Spain.