Wembley honours Paris victims with French anthem

Over 80,000 spectator including Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William stood to sing 'La Marseillaise


Afp November 18, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

LONDON: A moving rendition of the French national anthem reverberated around London's Wembley Stadium on Tuesday as fans of England and France paid tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks.

In a crowd of around 80,000 that included British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William, many stood to sing 'La Marseillaise' four days on from the attacks, which left 129 people dead and over 350 injured.

Shock, horror for 80,000 fans at Stade de France

The words to the anthem were displayed on the stadium's big screen as the music was played by an on-pitch band, while England fans in the east stand held aloft cards that created a vast mosaic of the French blue, white and red 'Tricolore'.

PHOTO: AFP

France midfielder Lassana Diarra, who lost a cousin in the attacks, was present on the pitch as the anthems played, along with his team-mate Antoine Griezmann, whose sister escaped the massacre at the Bataclan concert hall that left 89 people dead.

Breaking with convention, the Marseillaise was played after 'God Save the Queen' in order to create a stand-alone moment of solidarity.

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Many England fans had brought French flags to the stadium. One banner in the crowd, picking up a social media hashtag, read: "Pray for Paris."

Prior to the anthems, and a solemnly observed minute's silence, figures including Prince William, France coach Didier Deschamps, England manager Roy Hodgson, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet and his English counterpart Greg Dyke laid floral tributes beside the pitch.

The teams emerged from the tunnel accompanied by mascots wearing both France and England kits and led by children carrying a black flag bearing the French motto 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite' (freedom, equality, brotherhood).

Shortly before kick-off, the teams posed for a merged team photo, during which a standing ovation broke out around the ground.

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Former France defender Bixente Lizarazu, commentating on the game for French television, told the BBC: "This match is not easy for both teams, for anyone, not even the journalists.

"We are not here in London to speak about football. I don't know how I will make the commentary about this match. It is difficult."

There was a heavy police presence outside the ground as fans arrived beforehand, while two armed counter-terror police officers were seen patrolling beside the pitch inside the stadium.

The friendly between Germany and the Netherlands scheduled to take place in Hanover on Tuesday was cancelled, with German police citing a "serious" bomb threat.

Last Friday's attacks had started with three suicide bombers blowing themselves up outside the Stade de France while France played Germany in a friendly.

But supporters arriving at Wembley were relaxed, with one Malaysian fan telling AFP: "I have no fears at all. I believe that the British will provide the security necessary."

COMMENTS (1)

Spanish Red | 8 years ago | Reply I wouldn't say that Wembley honoured the victims with the Marseillaise. It would have been played anyway, it's the French national anthem. The victims were honoured by the English singing along with it, (the ones who knew the words anyway) So it was a rousing performance. Good also that the game was played, this one was important to go ahead., here's why: http://whysayanything.com/2015/11/18/england-and-the-meaningful-friendly/
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