Montpellier coach Rene Girard fears swine flu outbreaks could end up wreaking havoc with the Ligue 1 schedule.

The newly-promoted side's match against Monaco on Saturday was postponed this afternoon after five Montpellier players tested positive for the virus.

The Ligue de Football Professionnel medical commission decided that for the sake of players' health the game should not go ahead, and Montpellier's players and staff should be kept isolated for 72 hours.

Last month the match between Marseille and Paris St Germain was postponed hours before kick-off due to an outbreak of swine flu at the capital club.

And Girard feels fixtures could begin to back up if other teams go down with the virus.

He said on his club's official website: "It is a real problem, the situation may rapidly turn out to be catastrophic.

"I hope the authorities have studied the issue.

"We are heading towards a number of games being put back with very little possibility of postponement due to the World Cup."

A new date for the match between Montpellier and Monaco will be announced next Wednesday.

Earlier, Montpellier club doctor Rene Raimondi revealed that eight players and one member of staff at Montpellier were suffering with flu symptoms, with five of those players now positive for the H1N1 virus.