Toulon, France - Players and spectators at Saturday's Top 14 match between Toulon and Racing-Metro paid tribute to the 17 victims of the three-day Islamist killing spree in Paris.
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal, flanked by his Racing-Metro counterpart Jacky Lorenzetti, said a few words before asking for a minute's silence from the packed stands.
For comic books publishing magnate Boudjellal it was a particularly personal gesture as he had published early works by Charb and Tignous two of the caricaturists killed in Wednesday's attack on the weekly satirical magazine 'Charlie Hebdo'.
Spectators had greeted the two teams holding up pieces of paper with 'Nous Sommes Tous Charlie' (We Are All Charlie) printed on them.
The players lined-up wearing shirts also with the words 'Nous Sommes Tous Charlie' while 'Je Suis Charlie' and 'Je Suis Policier' (three police personnel were also killed in the shootings) with a black background were posted on the big screen.
There followed a minute's applause and then a rousing rendition of the French national anthem 'La Marseillaise' -- with photos of four of the caricaturists on the big screen -- as the teams prepared for kick-off.
"We are all beginning to realise the seriousness of what took place," said Racing-Metro's French international fullback Brice Dulin.
"It is important that we show our support."
AFP
