UEFA Champions League to Honor Nepal Flood Victims with Special Tribute
A Heartfelt Gesture from European Football
New Delhi: In a show of compassion, European football will honor the victims of the catastrophic flash floods that recently impacted Nepal. UEFA has announced that a moment of silence will be observed before each Champions League match this week to express solidarity with those affected by this disaster.
Accompanying the moment of silence will be a banner featuring the message, “You are not alone Nepal,” which will be prominently displayed prior to the matches throughout Europe.
UEFA stated, “A moment of silence will be held, and a banner will be displayed as a sign of solidarity and support ahead of all UEFA Champions League matches this week. The banner will carry the message ‘You are not alone Nepal.’”
Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, emphasized that this gesture symbolizes the football community's support for Nepal as it grapples with the aftermath of the floods that occurred on August 26.
He remarked, “The entire European football family will unite before this week’s matches to convey our deepest condolences and support to the people of Nepal. We wish them strength and resilience as they continue to recover from this tragedy and its aftermath.”
The floods have tragically resulted in 1,355 fatalities, with ongoing rescue and recovery efforts in various affected regions. As reported by Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 4,996 individuals, including at least 589 foreign nationals, are still unaccounted for, while 13,396 people have been rescued.
This tribute coincides with the return of the Champions League, featuring 14 matches scheduled across Europe starting Tuesday.
Notable fixtures include Barcelona facing Feyenoord at Camp Nou on September 9, followed by Liverpool hosting Atletico Madrid at Anfield the next day. Other significant matches will see Paris Saint-Germain take on Slovan Bratislava, Manchester United challenge Sabah FK, and Arsenal compete against Napoli.