The Premier League has announced its clubs will make a unique gesture of solidarity with the people of France this weekend. The French national anthem 'La Marseillaise' will be played before every Premier League fixture this weekend.
The decision was designed as an act of solidarity and though the likes of Roberto Martinez has called it an 'important touch', there was an immediate backlash to the decision on social media, with negative opinions ranging from 'mawkish' to 'over the top'
The anthem was given priority over God Save The Queen by the FA during England's friendly with France on Tuesday night.
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore justified the decision by saying this:
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.
National anthems have never featured at Premier League games, and officials have generally chosen to honour the victims of terrorism, like the thousands who died in 9/11, with a minute's silence.
Many on Twitter were not pleased by the news.
.@premierleague Respect for dead becomes patronising the dead with a stunt like this. But if you must why no Lebanese or Nigerian Anthem?
— Davy Lane (@LosCharruas) November 19, 2015
French national anthem at all premier league games this weekend? It was obviously an awful thing what happened but thats fucking ridiculous
— Alan (@alanoldfaithful) November 19, 2015
French National Anthem at Premier League games? This is all a bit "We need to be seen to be doing the most". Bordering on patronising.
— Declan Walsh (@deaglan25) November 19, 2015
I'm all for solidarity but the @premierleague playing the French anthem before games at the weekend seems ridiculous, does it not?
— Huw Stark (@starky88) November 19, 2015
I might be wrong here, but playing La Marseillaise before all PL games this weekend is dangerously close to mawkish.
— Richard Easterbrook (@1Easterbrook) November 19, 2015
@premierleague what happened at wembley was classy, well timed & appropriate. unless all top div's in europe doing it, its grief whoring imo
— Karl PT (@Karl_PT) November 19, 2015
FA got it right on Tuesday. Premier League that's a bit gimmicky and silly.
— F@€k (@Seasider06) November 19, 2015
I think playing the France national anthem at every premier league game is an overreaction and too much
— Jax Teller (@JoshtJax) November 19, 2015
