Football: after the controversy, Sochaux backpedals and agrees to move the match against Caen

Europe 1 with AFP 11:49 p.m., January 12, 2023

It's a turnaround.

FC Sochaux finally agreed to bring forward the match against Caen after the controversy.

The Sochaliens did not want to give a favorable response to the Caennais who wanted to postpone the match because of the funeral of the Stade Malherbe coach's wife which fell at the same time, Saturday at the end of the afternoon.

"At the request of Stade Malherbe Caen and in agreement with the broadcaster beIN Sports and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, the meeting FC Sochaux-Montbéliard - Stade Malherbe Caen has been postponed to Friday January 20 at 6.30 p.m. ", specified the League in its communicated.

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Outrage on social networks

Caen had previously requested in vain that the meeting scheduled for Saturday 21 be brought forward to Friday, or postponed to Sunday or Monday, due to the death on Wednesday of Armelle Moulin, the wife of Stéphane Moulin.

"At this moment of great pain, the LFP sends its most sincere condolences to Stéphane Moulin, his family, his loved ones and to the whole Stade Malherbe Caen", adds the League, especially thanking the broadcaster who been accommodating.

The Norman coach had been absent since the resumption at the end of December to stay at the bedside of his seriously ill wife.

It was his deputy Patrice Sauvaget who was acting.

On social networks, many Internet users expressed their indignation after the initial refusal of the Sochaliens to accede to the Norman request, which caused a controversy.

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“Clubs are families”

"Football is first and foremost a game. Clubs are families. Unfortunately, as long as some forget it, we will continue to see pathetic behavior", reacted in particular in a tweet Pierre-Antoine Capton, co-owner of the Norman club.

"In these dramatic circumstances, I don't see how SMCaen could play a football match at Sochaux on Saturday. The club's place is with Stéphane Moulin," he added.

Faced with this controversy, the general manager of FC Sochaux, Samuel Laurent, explained Thursday that he had refused rescheduling proposals for "logistical reasons".

"We are very saddened by what Stéphane Moulin and SMCaen are going through. We have no enmity with this club, let it be very clear," he said on the Franche-Comté club's Twitter account.

"We were offered three rescheduling options on Friday, Sunday or Monday, but it was impossible to do it on these dates for logistical reasons," continued Samuel Laurent.

"We are ready to be accommodating, but we must be offered dates compatible with a minimum viable organization."

"It's easy to make us look like the 'bad guys' when we have no problem rescheduling the game in principle," he said.

Before the 19th day of Ligue 2, Sochaux is 3rd in the standings and therefore a candidate for the rise in Ligue 1. SM Caen occupies eighth place.