The French national anthem will be played just after the coin toss. All players and officials will gather in the centre circle. Some clubs inc. Chelsea and the mags will wear black arm bands. Solidarity as they put it. A step to far or in agreement?
As a rule I hate the mixing of politics and football. But last Friday was also an attack on football so I think it's pertinent that football shows it's support and solidarity to the victims and emergency services of last weeks attacks.
As per Bri's comments. This time they attacked footie directly. So solidarity across the board for me - it should be followed by a rendition of an anti-ISIS song, as per the old 'no surrender' song of years gone by. Just replace IRA with 'ISIS-****s'.
Sometimes a thing goes beyond national patriotism. In the past, our miners have contributed aid to Polish and German communities which had mining accidents, and their miners did the same for ours in bad times. Nowadays, e.g. 9/11 and Paris aren't funny, and I can't see owt wrong with genuine compassion.
It's just a gesture of solidarity. Nowt wrong with that. On a slightly different slant, I do find it slightly ironic that we've now got the French telling Europe to wake up to the threat Talk about turning up late for the party.
I think that a gesture of solidarity like this is fitting but I have to say that I would have preferred that they did it as a minutes silence so that it's solidarity as a global community against IS rather than it coming across as us just sticking up for our mates across the channel. I don't want to be misunderstood because I do think its a good idea as a show of unity to play the french anthem but I'd of much preferred they just did a minutes silence.
The interesting situation that could develop is France and Russia taking IS on with troops on the ground. France cannot ask NATO to form a coalition force as they ditched NATO in the '60s and they have their hands full in their other ex-colonies in Africa so politically they can only ask Europe to join in as a favour. They have not been involved in the other NATO conflicts so they are a bit adrift at the minute unless them and Vlad do a deal.
People know the tune, that should do. It's called respect, the **** might be on our backdoor next week, let's see how great we are when it does yeah!
Yep, you're right, they pulled out of NATO in the 60's. But they rejoined NATO just 6 years ago, maybe you didn't get your morning newspaper delivered that day So they're fully entitled to ask NATO to form a coalition force. But they won't. This situation suits them perfectly. It allows them to extend themselves back into the Middle East without the Americans initially backing them up. And being onside with the Russians also allows Europe, and therefore NATO, to re-build bridges with the Russians in a common cause, and at the same time, diminish tensions in Europe, with Ukraine and the Baltic states. For Europe it's a win-win position. France has always had a chip on its shoulder about the American-British Anglo-Saxon alliance. That's why they've never backed us since the yanks let us down in the Suez crisis. This way, the French can re-impose themselves across the Mediterranean without the yanks at their back.
Thanks for the update. I was certainly asleep when they rejoined NATO, if I had a vote they would not have got it.
I think it's overkill personally. I thought it was great the other night at Wembley but I'd have left it at that. Arm bands yes, I understand that as a mark of respect, "Nous somme Paris" on the players strips, I get that but I don't think they should be playing the French national anthem at an English footie match, I find it a bit odd to be honest. Don't take this as me not respecting those who deserve it or belittling the event. I think respect needs to be paid, I just find this execution of respect a bit inappropriate. I don't really understand to what end it's being done and I think it sets a precedent that we don't really want setting. If something similar happens in the US are we going to have the star spangled banner playing? I think a minutes silence is there for a reason. It's a mark of respect. This feels a little gimmicky and social media driven to me, which cheapens it.
