France returns to soccer pitch, in heavily protected England friendly

British Prime Minister David Cameron will join football fans singing the French national anthem as they pay tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks prior to Tuesday’s England-France friendly.

The words to ‘La Marseillaise’ will be shown on the big screens inside London’s Wembley Stadium as supporters unite in solidarity after Friday’s attacks, which left 129 people dead and over 350 injured.

Cameron had not been scheduled to attend the game, but a source said that he had changed his mind in light of the horror that struck the French capital while France played a friendly match against Germany.

Asked if the British leader would join England fans in singing the anthem, his spokesman said: “The prime minister will take part in any tributes.”

Friday’s attacks, claimed by Islamic State, touched the France squad particularly closely.

A cousin of France midfielder Lassana Diarra was among those killed, while the sister of forward Antoine Griezmann escaped the assault on the Bataclan concert hall that left 89 people dead.

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Diarra’s decision to remain with the squad despite the fact the Marseille midfielder was “hurting to the bone.”

Confirming the death of his cousin, Asta Diakite, Diarra wrote on Twitter at the weekend that it was important to “remain united against a horror that has neither color nor religion.”

French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet called for Tuesday’s match to go ahead, prompting an unprecedented security operation involving armed police and increased security checks.

Wembley’s bars will shut five minutes before kick-off to encourage fans to observe tributes that will include a minute’s silence and the laying of wreaths by team captains Wayne Rooney and Hugo Lloris.

Breaking with convention, the French anthem will be played second in order to create a stand-alone moment of solidarity.

Rooney said that the match would enable those present to show that they refuse to be cowed by terrorism.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a great night of togetherness for everyone to see, for the terrorists to see the world will go on and stand against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, French Sports Minister Thierry Braillard announced that this weekend’s games in France’s top two football divisions will go ahead. Last week’s matches were canceled because of the attacks.

Meanwhile, Belgian authorities canceled a football match between Belgium and Spain amid heightened tensions after the Paris terror attacks.

“In consultation with the competent authorities and the Spanish national team, the Belgian FA has decided to cancel the match,” the Belgian Football Association said in a statement.

The association said it regretted the move, but added: “In view of these exceptional circumstances, we cannot, however, take any risk in security matters for our players and supporters.”

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said “some of us wanted to play this game” but told Cadena Ser radio that the security reasons had taken priority.

The coach of Germany, Joachim Loew, said that the world champions’ friendly match against the Netherlands in Hanover would be played as “a symbol of freedom.”

Germany were playing France at Paris’s Stade de France on Friday when three suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the ground as part of the assault that rolled across the city, which left a further 350 people injured.

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has withdrawn from the game, declared on social media that the attacks had left him “speechless.”

Loew said: “We had to get over the shock and we were afraid.

“But we talked about it again on the Sunday and it was clear that the game had to take place. It’s a clear statement about freedom and solidarity.”

Netherlands coach Danny Blind said: “This match is not about team line-ups or systems. What matters now is compassion and unity.”

German chancellor Angela Merkel is due to attend the match along with her cabinet.