Ligue 1: Marseille to miss second consecutive league encounter as fixture vs Saint-Etienne called off due to security concerns

Paris: French league giants Marseille will miss a second consecutive league encounter after their weekend fixture with Bordeaux was postponed by league chiefs Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_5671421” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Widespread rioting in the streets of Paris is the probable cause of postponing the match. Reuters[/caption] Marseille’s league match with Saint-Etienne was postponed last week due to security concerns linked to the France-wide ‘yellow vests’ movement. Authorities are expecting more anti-government demonstrations this weekend, which, combined with other “demands for police and security services elsewhere”, according to the French Professional League (LFP), has left a shortfall in the numbers of available officers for league encounters. Three other league games, namely Nice v Saint-Etienne, Nantes v Montpellier and Caen v Toulouse have been postponed for similar reasons. Last week six league encounters were postponed amid mass ‘yellow vest’ demonstrations in France aimed at the government of President Emmanuel Macron. They were all rescheduled, to be played on 15/16 January. Although more protests are expected this weekend, France is also on tenterhooks following a shooting in Strasbourg in which three people died. The 29-year-old suspect on France’s terror watchlist is still at large. The victims will be honoured by a minute’s silence at all remaining league fixtures this weekend. The LFP said “a minute’s silence” will be held before all kick-offs this weekend “to honour and show our solidarity with the victims of the shooting in Strasbourg.” Marseille are in action later Thursday when they host Apollon Limassol in the group stages of the Europa League.