English football fans saluted France on Tuesday by roaring out the "Marseillaise" national anthem at a friendly match which became a "show of solidarity joined by British politicians and royalty just days after Islamic State militants struck Paris," according to Pitas & Collett of REUTERS. U.K. PM David Cameron, Prince William and London Mayor Boris Johnson were in the stands as "tens of thousands of England supporters joined French fans in singing their anthem at Wembley Stadium which was guarded by armed police." An estimated 80,000 fans then "applauded wildly" as the two teams stood together in one long line ahead of a "perfectly observed minute's silence in a solemn mark of respect for the at least 129 people who were killed in the Paris attacks." The words of the French national anthem were displayed on large screens, the stadium's arch was lit up in the "blue, white and red of the French tricolour" and supporters on both sides carried French flags and messages such as "Pray for Paris." Eric Lavaud, a 55-year-old France supporter who traveled from St. Tropez, said, "Seeing Wembley in blue, white and red gives me goosepimples. We know that the English are going to be welcoming... for the first time in history." Common in European countries like France, armed police are "generally rarely seen in Britain" although they did patrol the London Olympic Games in '12 (REUTERS, 11/17). In London, Andrew Griffin wrote, "Never has a game of football been more important. Never has the football that was actually played mattered less." The Wembley security "was subtle," but it "wasn't hidden." Griffin: "The minute's silence wasn't observed by the helicopters that hovered overhead. And outside the ground waited armed police in huge, thick armour" (INDEPENDENT, 11/18).
FLOWERS ON THE PITCH: The BBC's Phil McNulty reported before kickoff "flowers were laid at the side of the pitch by Prince William and the opposing managers, England's Roy Hodgson and Didier Deschamps of France." Before the match, Hodgson said, "Globally it is more focused on our game now the other matches are off. We see the game as a show of solidarity and defiance. It doesn't feel like it normally feels inside Wembley stadium." Deschamps said the match would be "full of emotion," adding, "We are here to represent our country and its colors blue, white and red with even more pride than we normally would" (BBC, 11/17). The AP's Steve Douglas reported players from both teams "wore black armbands." There was an "increased police presence and enhanced security measures, including compulsory bag searches." With a police helicopter "whirring overhead and armed officers on patrol," England and France fans "mingled outside Wembley in a calm atmosphere on a wet and windy evening." There was "no sense of panic among supporters, who appeared intent on sending a defiant message of unity." England fan Robert Williams, who was wearing a beret and holding a French flag, said, "Tonight is more about solidarity than football." The French motto "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" was projected on the front of the stadium with French flags on either side. Fans from both countries "shared warm embraces." Two England fans held up a French flag, on which was written: "Be Strong For Paris." Sebastien Correia, a train driver from Calais, said, "We have been welcomed here like it's our own home" (AP, 11/17).
CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE: In London, David Sanderson wrote on Wembley Way, despite gun-toting police officers, "there was a carnival atmosphere." Scotland Yard’s horses "preened for selfies, Frenchmen and Englishmen jigged shoulder to shoulder to the skirl of the bagpipes, and -- in proof that cross-channel collaboration can only go so far -- burgers were being loudly munched" (LONDON TIMES, 11/18). Also in London, Daniel Taylor observed, "France’s players might not want to admit it, but who could blame them if they did not really want to be out there? The evening -- their mere presence -- had taken on the form of a collective act of defiance, rather than a football match in the orthodox sense, and even before they had made it on to the pitch it did not require a body-language expert to understand the mood" (GUARDIAN, 11/18).
TICKETS IN DEMAND: In London, Jeremy Wilson reported the FA announced rather than "be deterred from attending," supporters had created an "unusually high demand for tickets during the previous 48 hours." Only around 100 ticket holders "have asked to be refunded since the Paris atrocities on Friday that included three suicide bombs outside the Stade de France during France’s match against Germany." FA CEO Martin Glenn said, "Had we been seeing tens of thousands wanting their money back, there would be a level of concern. But it’s been quite the opposite. The public have a desire to go to the game and the belief they will do that in a secure setting. People are determined to show their solidarity" (TELEGRAPH, 11/17). In London, Jack de Menezes reported the FA "moved to clarify why there will not be any reference of the Paris terror attacks" in the program for England vs. France, citing that the edition "was sent to be printed before Friday’s horrifying attacks." The FA has been active in organizing a number of acts and tributes in memory of the 129 people that died in several attacks across Paris (INDEPENDENT, 11/17). In London, Hamish Mackay reported a petition calling for the profits from the England vs. France match to be donated to charity "has gathered more than 135,000 signatures." The appeal read: "Ten years ago, Parisians stood shoulder to shoulder with Londoners after the July 7 bombings. Today, England and France are united in grief. ... The decision not to cancel the game shows that life must go on, and that the murders outside the Stade de France cannot make us change our way of life. But we should make the most of the power of sport to change lives" (DAILY MIRROR, 11/17).
GERMANY MATCH CANCELED: DEUTSCHE WELLE reported the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands in Hanover "was canceled by German police over security concerns." A "suspicious object had been found before the game." Less than two hours before kickoff the fixture was canceled. Police "confirmed that an object had been found in the stadium, forcing all personnel to be evacuated immediately." Earlier in the evening a "suspicious object" had been discovered by police forces around the stadium. Road blocks were set up and "no fans were allowed to enter the area surrounding the HDI-Arena." However, police "did eventually open the roads," allowing journalists and fans to enter the stadium. Train and public transport moving away from the stadium "has also been stopped, with pedestrians being told to move away on foot" (DW, 11/17).
BELGIUM-SPAIN CALLED OFF: The BBC reported Belgium's friendly with Spain on Tuesday in Brussels "has been called off because of security fears following the deadly attacks in Paris." French prosecutors have "identified a Belgian as the attacks' mastermind." Belgium's government "raised the terror threat level to three on Monday, indicating a serious threat." The Belgian FA said it had taken the decision to cancel the game, set to be played at the King Baudouin Stadium in the Belgian capital, "following consultation with its Spanish counterparts" (BBC, 11/17).
