Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin 7:02 p.m., January 12, 2023

It is a general indignation which has been triggered in the world of football.

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard refused to postpone the match against Caen which is to be held on Saturday, the same day as the funeral of the wife of Stéphane Moulin, the Caen coach, who died on Wednesday.

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard refused to postpone its match of the 19th day of Ligue 2 against Caen scheduled for Saturday, the day of the funeral of the wife of the coach of the Norman club, a decision which aroused indignant reactions like the recited the head of the Sports department of Europe 1.

And for good reason, the Stade Malherbe de Caen had made a request for the match against the Sochaliens to be brought forward by one day, to Friday January 13 instead of Saturday January 14, due to the death on Wednesday of Armelle Moulin, the wife of Stade Malherbe coach Stéphane Moulin.

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Absent since the end of December

Stéphane Moulin has not been seen at the Caen club since the winter resumption at the end of December.

The coach had an exemption to stay at the bedside of his sick wife.

Stéphane Moulin was since then replaced by Patrice Sauvaget, his deputy. 

For its part, the FC Sochaux club justified itself in a press release.

The club explained that it could not find a solution and that it was too difficult to reorganize if this match had to be moved: "Faced with the need to very quickly have to agree on a new program and in view of what this induces in terms of organization (and in particular the difficulty in mobilizing the appropriate control and security personnel), (Sochaux) unfortunately had to resolve to have the match played "Saturday at 3:00 p.m., could we read in this communicated.

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The LFP and the broadcaster yet agree to a postponement

However, the Professional Football League (LFP) and the broadcaster Bein Sport had given their approval for a potential postponement.

According to France Bleu Normandie, three postponement dates had been proposed by the LFP but "all were refused by Sochaux". 

The Sochaux club also adds that its general manager, Samuel Laurent, "discussed this subject with Olivier Pickeu", the President of Caen, to propose to him "that a minute of silence in memory" of Mrs. Moulin be observed at the Bonal stadium before kick-off.

On social networks, many Internet users have expressed their indignation.

"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.

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.