Premier League Clubs Will Play 'La Marseillaise' Before Matches

The French national anthem will ring out around Premier League stadiums this weekend, with "La Marseillaise" set to play as an "act of remembrance and solidarity with France" before the matches kick off.

Premier League Executive Chairman Richard Scudamore confirmed the decision in a league release:

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Given how close we are as well as the long-standing relationship that exists between the Premier League and France, playing La Marseillaise as an act of solidarity and remembrance is the right thing to do.

We were all saddened and deeply shocked by the events in Paris last Friday, and the fact it was an attack on people enjoying their everyday freedoms like going to a bar, a concert or a football match resonates with football fans and the general public throughout the UK.

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Charlie Wyett of the Sun first reported on the tribute, noting representatives from every club discussed the proposal on Wednesday evening as the league seeks to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

"Quite a few of the clubs, particularly ones with French players, are keen," said a source quoted in the piece. "But one or two of the teams are not so sure."

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Everton manager Roberto Martinez backed the decision prior to the official announcement, per Tony Barrett of the Times:

On Tuesday, Wembley paid its own respects to the victims as England hosted France in an international friendly match. Before the game, wreaths were laid by the teams' managers, Roy Hodgson and Didier Deschamps, as well as Prince William.

In addition, all those in attendance were encouraged to join in with the French national anthem to create a stirring rendition of "La Marseillaise," as the home supporters held up cards to construct the tricolour French flag.

Here's a look at the emotional scenes from the iconic venue, per Eurosport:

The games in the Premier League will be played over one week on from the attacks that shook the French capital.

There was a suicide bomb attack outside the Stade de France on Nov. 13 as France hosted Germany in an international friendly as well as a number of other incidents across the city, including the taking of hostages at the Bataclan theatre.

BERTRAND GUAY/Getty Images

On Tuesday, a game between Germany and the Netherlands was cancelled in Hannover because of "concrete information that someone was planning to set off explosives inside the stadium," per the city's chief of police, Volker Kluwe, speaking to German press agency DPA (h/t the Guardian).

According to Wyett, the Premier League will increase its own security for matches this weekend in the wake of these incidents.

It's also noted in the piece that there will be a period of silence observed ahead of the massive Clasico showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain on Saturday.