Rabat – All players and match officials in the UK’s Premier League will observe a moment of silence and wear a black armband this weekend, paying tribute to the victims of the earthquake in Morocco and floods in Libya.
“The Premier League is deeply saddened by the recent tragic events in Morocco and Libya,” says an official statement released today. “All matches this weekend will pay tribute after the tragic earthquakes which have affected thousands of lives.”
“As a mark of respect, Premier League players and match officials will wear black armbands and observe a moment’s silence ahead of kick-off at fixtures during Matchweek 5, from Saturday 16 September to Monday 18 September,” the statement concluded.
In a similar gesture, Spain’s top-flight league La Liga and second division have pledged to hold a minute’s silence before every match. The minute’s silence will be for the victims of both disasters.
UEFA, the governing body of European football, similarly announced a moment of silence before all club and national team matches in honor of the victims.
Several top football clubs have expressed their condolences and sympathies for the victims of the disasters, including FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
The magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Morocco last week has left a trail of heartbreaking destruction behind. Nearly 3,000 lost their lives in the disaster, while over 5,500 others have reported injuries of varying severities.
In Libya, a powerful storm dubbed Storm Daniel has caused untold destruction in the coastal Mediterranean city of Derna, with over 11,000 confirmed dead so far and tens of thousands more missing.
