UEFA has decided not to broadcast the Champions League anthem before several matches in Spain, in tribute to the victims of two recent tragedies.
On Tuesday 3 November at 9pm, the kick-off of Villarreal-PSG was given without the Champions League anthem echoing around the Spanish stadium. An unusual decision by UEFA, which chose not to play the anthem before several matches held in Spanish stadiums that same evening.
This measure comes in a particularly painful context for Spain. A few days earlier, a rail collision claimed the lives of 69 people. This national tragedy deeply marked the country and led to collective mourning, with flags flown at half-mast and tributes multiplying.
Added to this mourning is the death of Jesús de Miguel, a Spanish striker, who died following a collision on a football pitch. This second tragedy, which occurred in the sporting world, particularly affected the football community and prompted UEFA to adapt its protocol.
Thus, the European governing body preferred to remove the anthem, a symbol of celebration and competition, to show due respect to the victims. Supporters in the stadiums therefore witnessed a more subdued pre-match, without the traditional music that usually accompanies the teams' entrance.
This decision concerns the matches scheduled in Spain on Tuesday evening, including the one between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain. It reflects UEFA's desire to join Spain's national mourning while keeping competitions running.
The players and staff thus played in a solemn atmosphere, far from the usual excitement of European nights. The tribute to the deceased took precedence over the spectacle, a way for football to show its solidarity.
This measure comes in a particularly painful context for Spain. A few days earlier, a rail collision claimed the lives of 69 people. This national tragedy deeply marked the country and led to collective mourning, with flags flown at half-mast and tributes multiplying.
Added to this mourning is the death of Jesús de Miguel, a Spanish striker, who died following a collision on a football pitch. This second tragedy, which occurred in the sporting world, particularly affected the football community and prompted UEFA to adapt its protocol.
Thus, the European governing body preferred to remove the anthem, a symbol of celebration and competition, to show due respect to the victims. Supporters in the stadiums therefore witnessed a more subdued pre-match, without the traditional music that usually accompanies the teams' entrance.
This decision concerns the matches scheduled in Spain on Tuesday evening, including the one between Villarreal and Paris Saint-Germain. It reflects UEFA's desire to join Spain's national mourning while keeping competitions running.
The players and staff thus played in a solemn atmosphere, far from the usual excitement of European nights. The tribute to the deceased took precedence over the spectacle, a way for football to show its solidarity.
Advertisement
Source: Ouest-France