Sports world stands in solidarity with Morocco earthquake victims

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Sep 2023 21:30

Several football bodies and clubs offer their condolences to the families of the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco.

Rescue workers search for survivors in a collapsed house in Moulay Brahim, al-Haouz province, on September 9, 2023 (AFP)

The Spanish Football Federation and the Spanish Football League, La Liga, announced on Saturday that a minute of silence will be observed in all La Liga2 matches and during the next La Liga matchday in support and solidarity with those affected and the families of the Morocco earthquake victims.

🇲🇦🤍

One minute's silence will be observed in all @LaLiga2 matches, and during the next @LaLiga matchday, in support and solidarity with those affected and the families of the Morocco earthquake victims. pic.twitter.com/Gmdw4PNi0I
— LALIGA Corporativo (@LaLigaCorp) September 9, 2023

The two bodies offered their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed the solidarity of the entire Spanish football family with the Moroccan people and its institutions against the backdrop of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that struck the North African country.

"Our special relationship makes us feel this disaster more deeply and with a profound sense of sadness," the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Pedro Rocha, said in a letter.

🔴 Comunicado oficial: en coordinación con @LaLiga, se guardará un minuto de silencio en todos los partidos de Segunda División en solidaridad con las personas fallecidas en el #TerremotoMarruecos

📍 En Primera División, próximo fin de semana

🔗 https://t.co/CC3GL8HMdZ pic.twitter.com/NPz8Ssuemn
— RFEF (@rfef) September 9, 2023

On its part, UEFA announced that it "will be holding a moment of silence at all upcoming national team and club competition matches as of tomorrow and until 21 September, in memory of the victims of the tragic earthquake in Morocco."

"The thoughts of European football are with the people of Morocco in these difficult times."

In the same context, Spanish football giants Real Madrid expressed in a statement their "deepest concern and solidarity with the victims of the earthquake in Morocco in recent hours."

Official Announcement.#RealMadrid
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 9, 2023

"Our club extends its condolences to the families of the deceased and all the Moroccan people," the club said, adding, "We wish the injured a speedy recovery and we transmit all of our strength and affection."

Similarly, FC Barcelona expressed their "full solidarity and strength to the victims of the earthquake that has affected Morocco."

In addition, Premier League side Manchester United said, "Our hearts are with the victims and those impacted by the overnight earthquake in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco."

❤️🇲🇦

Our hearts are with the victims and those impacted by the overnight earthquake in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 9, 2023

Manchester City, Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain, and Turkey's Galatasaray, among others, also offered their condolences to the families of the victims and expressed solidarity with the Moroccan people.

The Moroccan national football team posted stories on social media showing its players and staff donating blood to those wounded in the earthquake.

#Morocco's national football team players and staff donate blood to those wounded by the tragic #earthquake that hit the North African country last night. pic.twitter.com/zeSZcjm2Nx
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) September 9, 2023

Morocco & Libya Disasters

Natural disasters have struck North Africa; From a 7 magnitude earthquake that hit the province of al-Haouz, Morocco, to a catastrophic flooding breaking dams and sweeping away homes in Libya. In Morocco, the earthquake has killed more than 2,000 people and caused severe damage in several areas. Rescuers are digging through rubble in the remote mountains of Morocco in a desperate bid to find survivors from the deadliest earthquake to strike the country in decades. While 2,000 people have died and 10,000 are believed missing after Storm Daniel dumped so much rain on Libya’s northeast that two dams collapsed sending water flowing into already inundated areas.