Security tight ahead of England-France football game
England's Wembley Stadium will see increased security and expressions of solidarity with France in the wake of last week's attacks during the friendly football match between the two countries on Tuesday night.
A suicide bomber attempted to gain entrance to Paris' Stade de France, which was hosting a friendly between France and Germany at the time.
French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet refused to cancel Tuesday's fixture, saying: "France is standing. Football also."
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France is standing. Football also - Noel Le Graet |
France coach Didier Deschamps offered players the chance to withdraw from the game, but all refused to abandon the match.
The French and German teams spent the night in Stade De France stadium after the attack, as militants attacked several locations around the French capital.
France midfielder Lassana Diarra's cousin was killed in the attacks, while France forward Antoine Griezmann's sister escaped from a concert hall where 89 people died.
Diarra and Griezmann were among the 23-man squad that flew to London on Monday morning.
Increased security
Security at Wembley will be tighter, the English Football Association said, and bag checks will be conducted on all 70,000 spectators expected at the event.
"We'd like fans to turn up a bit earlier as there will be more security checks and police around the area," said English Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn.
However, the FA has not been informed of any specific threats to the event.
There will also be several expressions of solidarity with France at the match.
The stadium's famous arch will be illuminated with the colours of the French flag, while the French national motto, "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" will be projected onto the front of the stadium.
The words of the French national anthem will also be shown on screens for the England fans to sing along with their French counterparts.