A Poignant Tribute on the Pitch
Football players from France and Ukraine stood united with supporters in a deeply moving minute of silence before their World Cup qualifying match on Thursday. This solemn act brought to a close a day filled with poignant commemorations across Paris, marking ten years since the devastating terror attacks that shook the city.
Remembering the 2015 Tragedy
The horrific series of assaults began on 13 November 2015 just outside the Stade de France national stadium, where the French national team was playing Germany. The coordinated attacks, which spread to various locations across the French capital, resulted in the deaths of 132 people and left more than 400 others injured.
A decade later, the French team faced Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier held at the Parc des Princes in western Paris. The emotional pre-match ceremony saw fans passionately sing a section of France's national anthem, La Marseillaise, a cappella before the players took their positions.
A Unified Stand for Peace
The players from both teams walked to the centre circle and stood alongside a banner that powerfully read Football for Peace. Linking arms with their teammates, many bowed their heads as the stadium observed a flawless and respectful silence.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Salim Toorabally, the security guard whose vigilance prevented a suicide bomber from entering the stadium a decade prior, was present as a special guest of the French Football Federation.
The stadium announcer also used the moment to call for solidarity with the Ukrainian people amidst the ongoing Russian invasion, connecting past and present conflicts in a shared message of peace and resilience.
