Ciotti asks FIFA for minute of silence before France-Spain on July 14

Eric Ciotti, deputy for Alpes-Maritimes and mayor of Nice, has written to Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, requesting a minute of silence before the start of France-Spain, a 2026 World Cup semi-final scheduled for Tuesday, July 14 at 9 p.m.

The initiative aims to pay tribute to the 86 victims of the attack carried out on July 14, 2016 on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. “Because the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup will also take place on July 14 and will see the French team defending its colours, I wish to ask you that a minute of silence be observed before the start of this match in tribute to all those who lost their lives that evening on the Promenade des Anglais,” writes the elected official in the letter he made public on his social media.

Ciotti justifies his request by the symbolic significance of such a gesture on a global scale. “This gesture of remembrance would testify to the solidarity of the great football family towards the victims of terrorism and their loved ones. Such a tribute would be received with deep emotion by the families of the victims, the survivors and all French people. It would powerfully illustrate the values of brotherhood, peace, respect and unity that FIFA and football carry throughout the world,” he continues.

To maximize the chances of success, the former president of The Republicans has also contacted Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, to seek the official support of the FFF with FIFA. He believes that the backing of the French football chief would be “decisive” in allowing this tribute to take place.

The match has a dual historical dimension for the Blues: a victory would send them to the World Cup final for the third consecutive time, and on the very day of the national holiday.