PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain's clash with Lyon in Ligue 1 has been moved from Sunday to Monday evening at the request of Paris police, the French soccer league said on Friday.
The game was scheduled for 8:45 p.m. on Sunday — only hours after France's first NFL game was taking place just north of Paris — and will now be played at Parc des Princes in western Paris at 8:30 p.m. local time. Police resources are stretched in the French capital with mass protests planned for this weekend.
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People watch a burned-out car after a quiet night Monday under curfew, the first since weekend protests over the cost of living turned into rioting and looting across France, in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Riot police face protesters during a demonstration against rising living costs and in support of students' grievances in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Lyon's Corentin Tolisso gestures during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Lyon and Crystal Palace in Lyon, France, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
PSG's Desire Doue runs with the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
“The LFP said in a statement that it “acknowledges the order issued by the police prefecture prohibiting the staging of the match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais (on Sunday).”
France’s worst rioting in years saw city halls, other public buildings and thousands of businesses across the country impacted last weekend. There were scenes of widespread violence as police and protesters clashed, with shops destroyed and burned out, and local residents and shopkeepers left feeling exasperated by the chaos.
Last Saturday, 110 marches drew about 550,000 people across the country as they protested against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
Defending champion PSG and Lyon were level on 14 points at the top of Ligue 1 heading into this weekend’s eighth round of games.
The NFL holds its first American football game in Paris on Sunday afternoon, when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New Orleans Saints in their sold-out contest.
Around 80,000 fans are expected to attend the gridiron contest at Stade de France, which is just on the outskirts of Paris.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
People watch a burned-out car after a quiet night Monday under curfew, the first since weekend protests over the cost of living turned into rioting and looting across France, in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Riot police face protesters during a demonstration against rising living costs and in support of students' grievances in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Lyon's Corentin Tolisso gestures during the Europa League opening phase soccer match between Lyon and Crystal Palace in Lyon, France, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
PSG's Desire Doue runs with the ball during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday there is “no merit” to U.S. allegations that Canadian politicians are interfering in next month’s U.S. midterm elections, expressing disappointment with Washington’s ambassador over the accusations.
Speaking to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, Carney rejected a fact sheet issued Wednesday by the U.S. Embassy in Canada accusing Canadian politicians of seeking to influence American politics.
“The Canadian government brushes off concerns about potential interference in U.S. elections, even as its ministers and premiers openly describe plans to influence American politics in official documents and public appearances,” the embassy said.
Carney said Canadian diplomats were careful to avoid even the appearance of election interference and expressed disappointment with U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra.
“There is no merit to these claims,” Carney said. “I’m disappointed that their envoy sees that as his role, to make these suggestions.”
The embassy singled out Industry Minister Mélanie Joly for discussing retaliatory tariffs targeting Republican states, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford for airing a U.S. advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump canceled trade talks with Canada after the ad aired during the World Series in October 2025.
The embassy also cited 11 Canadians charged with illegally voting in U.S. elections between 2012 and 2026, without linking the cases to Canada’s government. The Trump administration has made investigating noncitizen voting a priority, although election experts say such cases are rare.
Asked about the allegations, the State Department told The Associated Press: “The embassy fact sheet speaks for itself.”
McGill University political scientist Daniel Béland dismissed the embassy’s examples as evidence of foreign interference, saying the suggestion that Canada could significantly influence the U.S. midterm results was absurd. He warned that the allegations could lay the groundwork for blaming Canada if Republicans lose seats.
Hoekstra, a Trump ally and former Republican congressman from Michigan, recently warned Canadian politicians to keep their “nose out” of American politics, saying Washington was monitoring their activities and would respond to interference.
More than 280,000 people have signed a parliamentary petition seeking his removal, accusing him of normalizing Trump’s threats to annex Canada.
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro also warned Canada last month against interfering in the midterms.
“That game is up and if you interfere in our elections in Maine or Michigan, you will pay even more dearly,” Navarro said.
Carney suggested senior U.S. officials had themselves sought to influence Canadian politics. Trump has repeatedly threatened to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
In January, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Alberta, where a separatist movement has sought independence, a “natural partner” for the United States.
“It’s just mindless noise,” Robert Bothwell, a Canadian historian, said. “Coming from an administration that plays footsie with separatists, it has less meaning than dogs barking in the night. All it expresses is the Trumpies’ hatred of Canada. Canada gets in their way, an obstacle to their hegemonic fantasies.”
Asked whether Canada could be blamed for Republican losses in the midterms and face additional tariffs, Carney said he did not expect that.
“There have been a very broad range of justifications for U.S. tariffs, and there’s almost an industry to create justifications for them,” he said.
Carney said Canada was ready to resume trade negotiations immediately if Washington was willing to negotiate in good faith, but would wait months or even until another U.S. administration if necessary to reach an acceptable agreement.
Asked whether a deal could be reached before the Nov. 3 midterms, Carney said, “It’s up to the United States. They’re a little hard to predict.”
“We don’t down tools because the United States is having elections,” he said.
Carney also said Trump was under no illusion about Canada’s sovereignty. “Canada will never be the 51st state,” he said. “We are going our own way.”
Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
Prime Minister Mark Carney sits on stage and listens during a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Turkey on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (Adrian Wyld /The Canadian Press via AP)
