Montpellier Outscores Marseille in Emotional Ligue 1 Clash Honoring Charlie Hebdo Victims
Montpellier delivered a commanding performance to defeat Marseille in Friday’s opening match of Ligue 1’s 20th round. But beyond the sporting contest, the evening at the Stade de la Mosson was marked by a poignant tribute to the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attack, which had shocked France earlier in the week.
Before kickoff, the stadium observed a minute of silence in memory of the twelve people killed in Wednesday’s attack on the satirical weekly. The silence was followed by a moving rendition of “La Marseillaise”, France’s national anthem.
In a visible show of solidarity:
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Montpellier players wore “Je suis Charlie” shirts during warm-ups.
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Marseille’s squad donned all-black T-shirts in remembrance.
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Both teams also wore black armbands throughout the match.
Some observers noted that Abdelhamid El Kaoutari and Jonathan Ligali appeared not to be wearing the commemorative T-shirts. In response to speculation, El Kaoutari clarified his stance in comments to mlactu.fr:
“I had it on underneath,” he said with a smile. “Don’t worry. And besides, you don’t mix politics and sport.”
The match, played under a somber national mood, was a powerful reminder of football’s role in uniting communities during times of tragedy.
