The opening game of the Ligue 1 season in France has been postponed after four positive COVID-19 tests at Marseille.

Marseille were due to take on St Etienne in the season opener on Friday night, but the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) have now postponed the match.

The 2019-20 campaign was cut short in April because of the pandemic so Paris St-Germain were awarded the title.

The LFP said in a statement: "In view of medical results passed on by Olympique Marseille... the LFP has decided to postpone the Olympique de Marseille/AS Saint-Etienne game to Sept 16 or Sept 17."

The rest of the opening round of games will be played on Saturday and Sunday but PSG or Lyon won't be in domestic action regardless of how they do in their respective Champions League semi-finals.

The French league told clubs last week its protocol for dealing with coronavirus meant more than three positive cases at a club was likely to lead to a postponement.

Ligue 1 club Nimes have also announced "two suspected cases" ahead of their game against Brest on Sunday.

Almost 40 players from 11 Ligue 1 clubs have tested positive for COVID-19, including some at St Etienne.