EUROPEAN football governing body UEFA has announced plans to display solidarity with Turkey and Syria after earthquakes last week killed thousands of people in the two countries.
The earthquakes struck in the early hours of the morning on Monday last week, levelling entire neighbourhoods in central Turkey and parts of already war-torn Syria.
The death toll has passed 20,000 with hundreds believed to still be trapped underneath the rubble, including Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu.
“In a show of European football’s support for the people of Türkiye and Syria following last week’s devastating earthquakes, a moment of silence will be observed before kick-off at all UEFA club competition matches this week,” UEFA announced today.
There will be two Champions League matches tonight, with Paris Saint-Germain hosting Bayern Munich and AC Milan welcoming Tottenham Hotspur in round of 16 first-leg clashes.
The Champions League continues tomorrow night when Borussia Dortmund face Chelsea in Germany and Club Brugge play host to Benfica in Belgium.
On Thursday, there are eight playoffs first leg encounters in each of the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, with the tie between Barcelona and Manchester United in Spain the headline clash.
There will be a moment of silence in all of these fixtures this week as the world mourns the devastating effects of the worst earthquake this century.
Incidentally, the final of this year’s UEFA Champions League final is scheduled for the Turkish city of Istanbul, at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in June.
