There was a minute’s applause before Manchester United’s game with Newcastle United on Saturday as the English Premier League honoured former South African president Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday.
Prior to kick-off, the players from both sides and the match officials stood around the centre circle at Old Trafford to applaud, with the crowd of around 75,000 spectators following suit.
Similar tributes are planned for the remaining six Premier League matches on Saturday, as well as fixtures in Scotland, the English lower leagues and the FA Cup.
Moreover, banners honouring Mandela were held aloft during Celtic’s Scottish Premiership game at Motherwell on Friday, which was also preceded by a minute’s applause.
The Scottish Professional Football League stated: “We recommend that a minute of applause is held before all SPFL fixtures this weekend as a mark of respect for and to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela.”
According to the available information, the tributes to the great South African hero will also be paid at rugby union matches in the European Cup and European Challenge Cup taking place in the United Kingdom this weekend.
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