Nice requests minute of silence before France-Spain match for 2016 attack anniversary

The mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti, has formally requested that FIFA and the French Football Federation observe a minute of silence before the World Cup semifinal match between France and Spain on July 14. This solemn tribute is intended to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the devastating jihadist attack that occurred in Nice on July 14, 2016.

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The match coincides with the commemoration of the massacre perpetrated on July 14, 2016, on the Promenade des Anglais in the Mediterranean town, when a truck ran over the crowd attending the French National Day fireworks.

On that tragic Bastille Day, a truck deliberately drove into a crowd gathered on the Promenade des Anglais to watch fireworks, resulting in the deaths of 86 people from 19 different nationalities. Mayor Ciotti's letter to the FIFA president emphasizes that the timing of the semifinal coincides with this somber anniversary.

Ciotti believes that a minute of silence would serve as a "solemn homage" to the victims, their families, and all those affected by the tragedy. He also stated that it would demonstrate "the solidarity of the great football family with the victims of terrorism and their loved ones." The mayor sees this gesture as embodying the values of "fraternity, peace, respect, and unity" that FIFA promotes globally.

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That gesture would constitute 'a solemn homage' to the victims, their families, and all those affected by the tragedy, as well as reflecting 'the solidarity of the great football family with the victims of terrorism and their loved ones.'

This request aligns with the commencement of the tenth-anniversary commemoration events in Nice. These include a solemn march along the Promenade des Anglais and an interfaith ceremony. French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to preside over the official commemoration on Tuesday, July 14, which will conclude with the lighting of 86 beams of light at precisely 10:34 p.m., the exact time the attack began.

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While France plays its World Cup semifinal, Nice will remember its 86 victims.