French and German players shoulder to shoulder for a solidarity match
Most of the international footballers from the glory days of France (Jean Tigana, Marius Trésor etc.) and Germany (Franz Beckenbauer, Dieter Muller etc.) have all accepted to participate in an exhibition match scheduled for Saturday 11 July at 15h00, at the stade Charlety in PARIS. Proceeds from the match will go to Daniel Nivel, the policeman who was severely wounded during the incidents in LENS on 21 June, and his family.
“This encounter was organised by the French and German federations, but President Egidius Braun came up with the idea,” said Claude Simonet, President of the French Football Federation, during Wednesday 1st July’s 10h30 press conference at the International Media Centre (CIM).
“This reprehensible act must be immediately erased from our minds, and that is why we have decided to put “mixed” teams together, with French and German players on each side,” said Simonet. The players will wear green and white football strips with the slogan “Yes to football without violence” written on them. The mayor of Paris will also contribute by gracefully making the stade Charelty available for the international players.
“I was deeply saddened when I learned of the events in LENS, and my heart goes out to the family of this man who was simply doing his job. Our thoughts are with Daniel Nivel, and we pray that he makes a speedy and full recovery,” said Egidius Braun, President of the German Football Federation.
The association of former French players, presided by François Heutte, was responsible for contacting the players. Many of them have already agreed to participate, including: Jean-Luc Ettori, William Ayache, Bruno Bellone, Bernard Genghini, Luis Fernandez, Jean Tigana, Patrick Battiston, Marius Trésor, D. Nacheleau, Didier Six, Yvon Le Roux, Philippe Jeannol and Jean-François Domergue. Other players are expected to agree to don the green and white strips: Michel Bibard, Basile Boli, Bernard Casoni, Alain Couriol, Joël BATS, Jean-Marc Ferreri, Jean-Michel Larqué.
The German Federation can already count on the participation of the following players: Udo Burdenski, Franz Beckenbauer, Klaus Allofs, Andreas Brehme, Rudi Völler, Karl-Heinz Rumennigge, Karl-Heinz Foster, Dieter Muller, Pierre Littbarski, Uwe Reinders and Gernot Rohr who currently heads the training centre in Bordeaux.
Thousands of spectators will without doubt rush to the stade Charlety on Saturday 11 July as a show of solidarity for policeman Daniel Nivel, and to stand up against all forms of violence within and outside stadiums.
Seats behind the goals will cost 10 FF, and seats in the stands 20 FF. All proceeds, including television and commercial rights, will go to benefit the family of Daniel Nivel.