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French side Lens have released a firm statement expressing their resolve not to have their match against Paris Saint-Germain rescheduled. The Ligue 1 fixture is currently slated for April 11, which falls between both legs of the Champions League quarter-final tie against Liverpool FC.

The Reds secured their place in the competition’s last eight courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate victory over Galatasaray in the previous round and are now set for a rematch with PSG – the same club who ousted them from the Champions League at the last-16 stage last season. The first leg of the Liverpool vs PSG encounter is due to take place at the Parc des Princes on April 8, followed by the second leg at Anfield less than a week later on April 14, where the victor will advance to the semi-final. Recent reports suggest that PSG had lodged an official request with the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) – the governing body of French football – for their match against Lens to be postponed and rescheduled for later in the campaign.

Earlier in the season, PSG made a similar request regarding their Ligue 1 match against Nantes, which was initially set to be played between both legs of their Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea.

Liverpool are scheduled to face Fulham in the Premier League on April 11 – the same day that PSG are currently set to clash with Lens in Ligue 1. Lens have now released a statement addressing the rumours and clarifying why they are against rescheduling their match with PSG.

It read: “On March 6, the scheduling of the match pitting Racing Club de Lens against Paris Saint-Germain was finalised, formalising a framework to which everyone was then invited to adhere. In a spirit of responsibility and restraint, Racing Club de Lens, from the very first requests, made it known to Paris Saint-Germain its intention not to see this date changed.

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“True to a certain idea of sporting stability, the club had also chosen to refrain from any public communication on this subject. However, the recent proliferation of statements, interventions, and various suggestions now leads us to break from this reserve.

“It does indeed appear to us that a troubling sentiment is taking hold: that of a French championship gradually relegated to the status of an adjustment variable at the whim of the European imperatives of some. A singular conception of sporting equity, the equivalent of which is hard to find in other major continental competitions.

“Changing the date of this match today would mean, for Racing Club de Lens, being deprived of competition for 15 days and then chaining matches every three days – a rhythm that corresponds neither to the one defined at the start of the championship, nor to the resources of a club that could absorb this type of new constraint without consequence.

“It would therefore be understood that the tenth budget in the championship should adapt to the demands of the most powerful, in the name of interests that, evidently, now extend beyond the domestic framework, which has already been lightened in recent seasons (L1 reduced to 18 clubs, discontinuation of the Coupe de la Ligue).

“Beyond this particular case, the question raised is more fundamental: that of the respect due to the competition itself. For it is permissible to wonder when, on its own soil, the championship sometimes seems relegated behind other ambitions, however legitimate they may be.

“Racing Club de Lens remains committed to equity, the clarity of rules, and respect for all stakeholders. Simple principles, for a loyal and respected French football.”