Doors shut on PSG friendly

ByEurosport

Updated 16/07/2010 at 15:06 GMT

Paris St Germain's friendly with FC Malines will be played behind closed doors after local authorities refused to sanction the game due to fears over hooliganism.

Paris Saint-Germain's goalkeeper Edel (L) kicks the ball as PSG's fans hold banners against the owner of the club during their French L1 football match PSG v. Lorient at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris

Image credit: AFP

PSG were due to play the Belgian first division team in the vicinity of their training centre near the Northern French towns of Arras and Le Touquet - a posh resort - but their notorious competing hooligan 'firms' led the towns to block the game.

It will now be played in the training centre.

"After consulting with the director of the regional police, we made the decision due to the poor reputation of PSG’s fans," Le Touquet’s mayor Daniel Fasquelle said.

Ligue 1