Wembley to display words to French national anthem as England prepare to show solidarity after Paris terror

Show of solidarity: Wembley Stadium will display the words to France's national anthem
(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Tom Dutton15 November 2015

The words to the French national anthem - La Marseillaise - will be shown on the Wembley big screens ahead of England's friendly with France on Tuesday as a show of solidarity following the Paris terror attacks.

It comes as the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Sunday that all 23 members of the France squad will travel to London for the game, despite players being directly affected by Friday's events.

Lassana Diarra's cousin was one of 132 victims killed by gunmen in the French capital, while Antoine Griezmann's sister escaped the Bataclan theatre, where 89 people were shot dead as they watched American rock band Eagles of Death Metal.

Explosions could be heard from inside the Stade de France as the French national team played Germany on Friday night, but the game continued to its conclusion.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, it was unclear whether Tuesday's match at Wembley would go ahead, but FA chairman Greg Dyke confirmed on Saturday that - after consultation with the FFF - the game will be played.

Dyke said: "We will use the opportunity to pay our respects to all affected and also to express our solidarity with the people of France.”

Outside Wembley, screens will show the French motto "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite"

And thousands of people are calling for the FA to make the game "a symbol of friendship and fraternite" by donating profits to charity.

More than 14,000 have signed an online petition on Change.org asking Dyke to give the proceeds to the French Red Cross and French charity Medecins Sans Frontieres to help support victims of the attacks.

Creator Ben Lyons, from London, wrote on the site: "Ten years ago, Parisians stood shoulder to shoulder with Londoners after the 7 July bombings. Today, England and France are united in grief.

"As the national sport of both our countries, football brings us together."

The FA, though, has already made plans for the fixture to raise money for another cause, with a spokesman saying: "The fixture has already been designated as a Breast Cancer Care international and so we have donated funds from the ticket sales to our current charity partner. This has been the case for some months now.

"We have been also been liaising with the French Football Federation who have advised us on the appropriate way to pay our respects following the tragic events in Paris."

Additional reporting by PA

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