Europe unites to pay tribute to Paris dead
THE Premier League paid its respects to the victims of the Paris terrorist massacres yesterday as the French national anthem rang out at every ground.
Aston Villa’s French manager Remi Garde looked close to tears as La Marseillaise was played before his side’s game at Everton.
Players linked arms and wore black armbands eight days after 130 people died in the atrocities in the French capital.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said the playing of the anthem nationwide would represent an act of ‘solidarity and remembrance’ and supporters and players delivered a fitting tribute.
The words to La Marseillaise were printed in the matchday programme at Manchester City’s home game against Liverpool. Eliaquim Mangala, Emre Can and Bacary Sagna, three of the players who were caught up in the terror at Stade de France where suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the ground, lined up around the centre circle with team-mates.
The French flag flew at half mast on top of the East Stand at Newcastle.
Chelsea’s players wore black armbands incorporating the French tricolore during their game against Norwich.
Twenty-two French players were involved in Premier League action yesterday.
Fans had united to sing La Marseillaise before England’s win over France at Wembley on Tuesday and the continuation of English football’s tidal wave of support for their neighbours has clearly left a mark on Garde.
The Villa boss said: ‘I was very happy; I was very impressed with the way decent people are standing with France at this time. It is quite terrible at home and everyone is scared.
‘But when you know that everyone in every country around you is standing by you and supporting you, it is very special. It makes you feel warm in your heart. I thank all the English people who have shown this tribute to us.’
The Premier League has briefed each club on the current terrorist threat alert. Security was stepped up dramatically at all grounds yesterday with an increased police presence, sniffer dogs and bags checked as spectators went in. In France, 11 doves of peace were released and a minute’s silence was observed before Lorient’s home match against Paris Saint-Germain.
Thousands of fans waved flags inside Le Moustoir stadium and PSG players wore ‘Je Suis Paris’ on their shirts.
‘It has been very hard for the players psychologically,’ admitted boss Laurent Blanc.
‘They now all want to go back to Paris. Our minds cannot be on football at this time. I am thinking of being with my family and about enjoying life.’
Elsewhere, Anderlecht’s game at Lokeren in the Belgian top flight was called off as security in Brussels could not be guaranteed. In Italy, French and Italian flags were unfurled on pitches ahead of Serie A games.
And there were tears in the eyes of Real Madrid’s French striker Karim Benzema as he lined up with team-mates for a piano rendition of La Marseillaise before El Clasico at the Bernabeu.