UEFA has announced that a minute of silence will be observed in memory of Pope Francis ahead of all upcoming club competition matches.
This tribute will precede the first legs of the men’s Champions League semifinals, taking place from April 29 to May 1.
It will also be observed before this week’s matches in the UEFA Youth League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
Among the fixtures included are Inter’s match at Barcelona and Fiorentina’s visit to Betis Sevilla.
The decision follows the passing of Pope Francis on Monday, which has led to an outpouring of tributes from global leaders. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin honored the Pope’s enduring influence in an official statement.
A minute’s silence was also held prior to all Serie A and Coppa Italia matches this week. Additionally, matches initially scheduled for Saturday have been postponed to ensure no professional games are played during Pope Francis’ funeral, set to take place in Rome on Saturday morning.
