3 French games brought forward due to cold snap

PARIS (AP) -The French league says three first division matches scheduled for Saturday evening have been brought forward to an earlier kickoff because of freezing weather conditions.

The LFP said Friday that Dijon vs. Valenciennes, Nancy vs. Rennes and Saint-Etienne vs. Lorient will all go ahead, but will now be played at 15.00 local time (1400 GMT), rather than at the scheduled time of 19.00.

Inspections have been carried out at every first division ground, the league says, adding that it remains "optimistic'' other games will go ahead over the weekend.

Referees can decide whether games go ahead as from two hours before kickoff.