Great Britain & Ireland XI and World XI players pause for a minute’s silence in memory of the Paris attacks before the Unicef Charity Match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, yesterday. (Reuters)

Agencies/Paris


Leading figures in the world of sport reacted with shock, anger and sadness to the terror attacks in Paris which have left nearly 130 people dead.
European football organizing body UEFA said it was “deeply shocked” by the terror attacks.
Teams taking part in matches in all of its competitions in the coming days will wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach ordered the Olympic flag to be flown at half-mast. “These attacks are deeply shocking. The IOC condemns these barbaric and cowardly acts,” Bach said. “Today all people of goodwill will say: We are all French,” he added.
Issa Hayatou, the acting president of football world governing body FIFA, sent letters to the French and German football federations “expressing his shock and solidarity,” FIFA said.
Among reaction from leading sports personalities, Argentina footballer Lionel Messi called via Facebook for “love and peace between humanity and a union of the world”. “All my thoughts are with the victims and their relatives of yesterday’s tragedy,” he said.
Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt tweeted: “So sad to hear of the attacks in Paris. Thoughts with all the victims and their loved one.” (sic)
NBA star LeBron James tweeted: “As I get ready for my game I can’t help but to think of the tragedy in Paris! My God what’s up with people. Prayers sent to all the families!”
Spanish tennis ace Rafael Nadal posted a message on Facebook in French and Spanish saying: “I’m devastated by everything that happened last night in Paris. I give all my love and all my support to France and Parisians.”
Formula One drivers preparing for yesterday’s qualifying for today’s Brazilian Grand Prix also sent messages using the widespread #PrayForParis hashtag. A minute’s silence is planned before the race.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy in Paris,” a Formula One tweet said.
Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton tweeted: “I am praying for all those affected in Paris, please pray with me guys.” His Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg wrote: “Speechless about the tragedy in France. My thoughts are with you.”
Germany’s two-time Major golf winner Martin Kaymer tweeted: “Shocked about what just happened back home in Europe. Way more important things in life than golf today. In other Twitter posts, German tennis player Sabine Lisicki wrote: “I don’t know how about you but there is no way I can fall asleep now.  It gets more tragic by the minute...” German tennis great Boris Becker tweeted: “shocked...angry...sad...confused..”
The attacks in Paris come a month before the December 12 draw in the French capital for football’s Euro 2016. The 24-team tournament is taking place in nine cities across France from June 10-July 10.
Among Friday’s attacks were reported suicide bombings near the Stade de France stadium just north of Paris, which will host next year’s Euro 2016 final and other matches including the tournament’s showpiece opening game.
World champions Germany were playing France in a friendly international at the stadium when the attacks took place.
The German football federation DFB posted on its website the message, “#NousSommesUni” on a black background, with the line, “We are united. Our thoughts are with the victims in Paris and their relatives.”
The players, who had spent the night in the stadium following their 2-0 defeat, issued a statement saying they could find no explanation to “these cowardly attacks”.
“We lost a football match on Friday - and it couldn’t have been more unimportant,” they said.
French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet said in a message on the federation’s website he “shares the emotion that shakes the nation”. The FFF “shares the grief of the bereaved families and relatives,” he said.
France is meanwhile going ahead with a friendly international on Tuesday against England at London’s Wembley stadium.
England’s Football Association said it agreed to go ahead with the match in solidarity with France.
“The thoughts of everyone at the FA, our manager Roy Hodgson, his players and our supporters are with the French nation,” a statement said.
All major sports events in the Paris region have been suspended in the wake the attacks, French TV ITele reported yesterday.
There were already no matches scheduled this weekend in France’s elite Ligue 1 soccer division.
European Professional Cup Rugby said on Saturday that all Champions Cup and Challenge Cup games in France this weekend would be cancelled.
All basketball and volleyball matches in the country were also called off, their respective federations said.