Match moved to Wednesday afternoon

Rennes' Europa League match against Olympiacos has been rescheduled to Wednesday at 4:30 pm, according to recent reports, due to a series of scheduling adjustments this season.

Fan reactions vary

Christophe, a Rennes supporter and season ticket holder, shared mixed feelings about the new timing. While he plans to attend the match, he noted that some fans might find it difficult to go due to work obligations. "I'm lucky. I have been retired since September 1st. This will be a match for retirees and children," he said.

Work adjustments help some attend

Lilian, a truck driver in his thirties, managed to adjust his schedule to attend the match despite the new timing. "I work in public works. I'm a truck driver. I managed to negotiate with my boss without having to take a day off. It wasn't easy," he said. He emphasized the importance of the match, noting that Olympiacos is the biggest match for Rennes this season.

Some fans face challenges

However, not all fans are as fortunate. Shailyn, a 17-year-old student, expressed frustration. "I was supposed to go and I will finally miss the biggest match," she said. "I'm in a pastry school and on Wednesday afternoons, I have classes. 4:30 pm! I don't understand this time. It's still a lack of respect for people."

Reason for the change

The change in timing was reportedly due to the planned general strike and large-scale demonstrations in Rennes on Thursday, which would have made it impossible to hold the match. UEFA proposed moving the match to Wednesday but was inflexible regarding the time. The decision was made to avoid conflict with other Champions League matches, including an AEK Athens-Real Madrid match starting at 6:45 pm.

Alternative options considered

UEFA also offered Rennes the option of relocating the match abroad, but this was ruled out by club officials. Financial losses are expected, particularly from the sale of boxes and VIP services. The club has opened an official resale platform for the match and is offering tickets for only 15 euros to encourage attendance from children in football schools.

Coach remains pragmatic

Franck Haise, Rennes' coach, expressed a pragmatic view on the situation. "We are not going to complain because the match is in the afternoon. If we look at why, it's because there are much more serious things. Football is sport. It's emotions. It's not more than that. There are much more important things to solve than a football match, regardless of the final result."