FIA President Jean Todt "has triggered anger after being accused of playing down the terrorist attacks in Paris," according to Kevin Eason of the LONDON TIMES. Social media "filled with irate comments" after the Frenchman was asked for his thoughts on the killings that have shocked the world. Todt said, "Do you realize that the number of people killed in road accidents is by far bigger than the number of people who died in Paris yesterday?" Senior figures in the São Paulo paddock ahead of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix "were stunned at the apparent insensitivity of Todt's remarks," which "sparked a row" behind the scenes over a planned minute's silence for road accident victims ordered by the FIA president. Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone tried to "persuade Todt to drop his road safety silence for a tribute to the victims of the Paris massacre." But Todt was "insisting that the minute's silence would now be for both Paris and road safety victims." Teams are "already acting independently," with the Lotus F1 team putting the hashtag #PrayForParis on the cars of Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado for Sunday's race. Todt wants to make road safety the "hallmark of his tenure" at the FIA. Ecclestone believes that Todt's campaign has been "overtaken by events and is anxious that F1 is seen to be offering full support to the people of France." One senior team principal said, "The whole world is watching what happened in Paris. We have people in this paddock with friends and family there. We appreciate Mr. Todt has his campaign but this is way bigger than him" (LONDON TIMES, 11/14). FOOTBALL ITALIA reported Italian Football Federation (FIGC) President Carlo Tavecchio told his French Football Federation counterpart "we are always by your side" after the Paris attacks. Tavecchio offered "sincere condolences and deep solidarity from the whole of Italian football" to Noël Le Graët of the FFF. Tavecchio added, "In the face of the killing spree which hit Paris and France yesterday, football and its values should help us more than ever to defeat violence and make the stadiums places of peace" (FOOTBALL ITALIA, 11/14). MARCA reported Paris St. Germain player David Luiz "has been so shaken" by the terror spree in Paris that he admitted to "having doubts" about going back to PSG. The footballer, who remains at the Brazil camp despite his sending-off against Argentina leaving him suspended for the upcoming game against Peru, "detailed what his experience was like when he found out about the attacks." Luiz: "I called my girlfriend and my friends to check that they were alright. They were all very sad and scared. I feel full of sorrow" (MARCA, 11/15). In Barcelona, José Félix Díaz wrote Spanish int'l Cesc Fàbregas took the time out to go to the French Embassy in Madrid "and pay his respects to the victims of the Paris massacres." He said, "I'd like to do something to show my solidarity." Representing the Spanish national football team, Spanish sport and "all of Spain," he "left a football among the flowers and messages of support that have been placed in front of the embassy" (MARCA, 11/15).
