Terror victim homage to mark Nice football opener

Nice (France) (AFP) – Nice’s football club will honour the 85 victims of the July 14th terror attacks by wearing special shirts bearing the names of those who died, when they take on Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

The attack which claimed the lives of 85 people and injured hundreds more happened just four days after the end of Euro 2016 in which Nice, with its revamped Allianz Riviera stadium, was one of the host cities.

Nice football club announced this week both teams would participate in commemorations before Nice’s first game of the new football season with special t-shirts for the warm up. 

The home side will then play wearing special white jerseys without any sponsors logo but with the names of the victims on their shirts instead.

“On the pitch, in the stands and outside the stadium, all the people of Nice will gather together to honour the victims and the wounds which will never heal,” said the club.

Nice’s board stated “it would be impossible to just focus on football after an act that will change things forever, but we need to stay strong and move on.”

The kits worn by the players will be auctioned off at the end of the match with the proceeds going to the victims’ families.

At the start of the match 85 balloons will be released with a minute’s silence to follow.