The Champions League group-stage match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes will not be postponed or cancelled, despite violent protests unfolding across France, according to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
Speaking at a press conference after a crisis meeting, Lecornu said he had instructed local authorities to impose "partial" and "localised" curfews in some cities to protect businesses, after weekend protests escalated into one of the worst outbreaks of street violence in recent years.
He raised the possibility of declaring a state of emergency "if necessary" but stressed that curfews were a better fit for the current crisis. "I am fully determined to restore order," Lecornu said.
The prime minister described a state of emergency as a very severe measure, including in how it is implemented, and said it should only be used when truly needed. "In the current situation, the question of curfews and how to enforce them seems better suited to the circumstances we may face," he added.
He did not say which cities would be placed under partial curfews or what form they would take, but ruled out a curfew covering all of Paris. "These curfews must be local and partial. The whole of Paris cannot be placed under curfew," he said.
At the same press conference, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told reporters there were no plans to call off the match. Neither club has shown any sign that the violence will affect the fixture, with Barcelona still travelling across the northern border to Paris on Monday afternoon.
PSG, the reigning European and French champions, are scheduled to host the Spanish side at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday evening, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT. The match is seen as the highlight of the group-stage round in Europe's top club competition, coming after days of protests that have spread across the capital and surrounding areas.
The weekend's rioting and looting also hit French clubs Marseille and Lille. The two Ligue 1 sides said their official club stores were vandalised during the protests.
Marseille said in a statement on Monday that looters caused "significant damage" to its official store on La Canebiere, the best-known street in the southern port city, and that the shop had been temporarily closed.
In the north, Lille said its city-centre store was "severely damaged and extensively looted" and would remain closed until further notice. The club thanked "everyone who has shown support in recent hours — above all the store staff, along with the many passers-by, supporters or not, who volunteered to help, offered practical assistance and encouragement."
