PARIS: The French soccer federation will pay tribute to the victims of the November 2015 attacks that targeted the Bataclan theater, Paris cafés and the national stadium in assaults that killed more than 130 people and injured over 400.
France’s national team hosts Ukraine on Nov. 13 in a men’s World Cup qualifier, 10 years after the worst attack on French soil since World War II.
To commemorate the anniversary, the French federation said Friday it will take part in national ceremonies honoring the victims.
The match will not be played at the Stade de France, one of the sites attacked that night, but at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Players will wear the Bleuet de France, an emblem symbolizing remembrance and solidarity with victims.
A fundraising campaign will be held around the stadium, and a minute’s silence observed before kickoff. A banner reading “Football for Peace” will be unfurled at the center of the pitch.
The night of the attack was a balmy Friday evening, with the city’s bars and restaurants packed. At the Bataclan concert venue, the American band Eagles of Death Metal were playing to a full house. At the national stadium, just outside Paris, a soccer match between France and Germany had just begun, attended by then-President Francois Hollande and then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.
In the bloody events, jihadists detonated suicide vests and opened fire on cafes in the French capital before massacring spectators of a concert at the Bataclan.
The Stade de France, in the suburb of Saint-Denis, was the sole site outside Paris to come under assault from Islamic State extremists. The three suicide bombers struck outside the stadium and killed one man. At least one of the bombers had tried to get in, despite not having a ticket, but was turned away by a security guard, Salim Toorabaly.
The person who died in Saint-Denis was Manuel Dias, a Portuguese retiree who drove busloads of fans to the stadium to earn a little extra money.
France players to honor victims of Paris attacks in 2015
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France players to honor victims of Paris attacks in 2015
- To commemorate the anniversary, the French federation said Friday it will take part in national ceremonies honoring the victims
- A fundraising campaign will be held around the stadium, and a minute’s silence observed before kickoff
Saudi Arabia lose to Morocco in final group match of Arab Cup
- Green Falcons had already qualified for quarterfinals
- Oman eliminated despite victory over Comoros
DOHA: Morocco booked their place in the Arab Cup knockout stages after defeating Saudi Arabia on Monday, but Oman’s victory over Comoros in their final group game was not enough to keep their campaign alive.
Needing only a draw to progress, Morocco took all three points against the Green Falcons, who missed a crucial second-half penalty.
The Saudis, already through to the knockouts, made several changes and began brightly, coming close to opening the scoring inside six minutes when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat’s looping header clipped the crossbar.
Despite the early pressure, Morocco kept their composure and took the lead when Tarik Tissoudali teed up Karim El-Berkaoui to put the Atlas Lions in front.
Saudi Arabia pushed for an equalizer and were handed a golden opportunity midway through the second half when Amin Zahzouh fouled substitute Abdullah Al-Hamdan inside the penalty area.
But the striker’s attempt at a “Panenka” sailed over the crossbar.
In the group’s other match, Oman defeated Comoros but were eliminated after failing to make up the required goal difference.
Knowing victory alone would not be enough, Oman began aggressively, creating a string of first-half chances through Issam Al-Sabhi, Zahir Al-Aghbari and Jameel Al-Yahmadi, only to be denied by profligacy and Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
The breakthrough arrived in calamitous fashion just before the interval as Ahamada was dispossessed by Al-Sabhi inside the 6-yard box, allowing the forward to shoot into an empty net.
Al-Sabhi then doubled Oman’s lead with a header just before the break.
Comoros rallied after the break through a fine individual effort from Nassuir Hamidou to reduce the deficit, but further chances went begging and Oman held on for victory.
Despite finishing with four points, Oman bowed out of the competition, while Comoros concluded their debut Arab Cup campaign with three straight defeats.
