Premier League matches to play French national anthem

LONDON

The French national anthem, "La Marseillaise", will be played before English Premier League matches this weekend in a show of solidarity with France in the aftermath of recent attacks in Paris that killed 129 people.

According to Premierleague.com website, Premier League Executive Chair Richard Scudamore said on Thursday that they will sing the anthem in the U.K. in honor of the 129 victims killed in the attacks on Nov. 13.

"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," Scudamore remarked.

"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 U.K.," he added.

Meanwhile, Premier League giants Chelsea announced on their website that team players will wear black armbands during the match against Norwich City at Stamford Bridge Saturday.

During the friendly match between England and France on Tuesday at Wembley Stadium in London, the giant arch over the stadium was lit up with colors of the French flag as tens of thousands of fans chanted the French national anthem before kick-off.

The French president had blamed Daesh for the recent Paris attacks, which comes after the deadly Charlie Hebdo attacks in January.