La Marseillaise to be played before Hornets’ game with Manchester United

Chelsea have announced their players will wear black armbands incorporating the French flag during their home game with Norwich City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The English Premier League says the French national anthem will be played ahead of all games this weekend “as an act of remembrance and solidarity with France after the Paris attacks”.

“A choral version of “La Marseillaise” will be played after the coin toss, with players from both teams coming together with the official and assistants in the centre circle facing the main stand”, read a statement on the Premier League website.

“Symbolically it’s a very nice gesture”.

“It was a fantastic vehicle for showing solidarity and what the game of football can do, and I think this weekend would be exactly the same”. The Belgian FA said it regretted the move, but added: “In view of these exceptional circumstances, we can not, however, take any risk in security matters for our players and supporters”.

According to a close source speaking to the Sun, clubs with a strong French contingency are keen to pursue the idea: ‘Quite a few of the clubs, particularly ones with French players, are keen.

The league issued a statement confirming the anthem would form a part of top-flight matches this weekend as it said that they would be played in an atmosphere of “heightened security”. Although the “severe” threat level remains unchanged, the clubs have been fully briefed on the latest security advice.

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny was playing for France against Germany in the friendly at the Stade de France which three suicide bombers attempted to gain entry to.

Premier League officials have subsequently consulted with security advisors, police and the government to come up with new measures.