Nelson Mandela to be Honoured at all Premier League Matches over the Weekend
The Premier League have confirmed that a minute’s applause will be held before every match this weekend in tribute to Nelson Mandela, following the death of the former South African President on Thursday.
Mandela was known as a keen football fan, having been instrumental in helping South Africa gain Hosting Rights to the 2010 World Cup and he was in attendance at the final in Johannesburg.
The first match of the weekend will be at Old Trafford, with Manchester United taking on Newcastle in Saturday’s early kick-off.
It has also been confirmed that a minute’s applause will be held before every Football League clash and FA Cup second-round match, while Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens will wear black armbands for their Heineken Cup match against Zebre in Parma.
The Allianz Park outfit have strong ties with South Africa, given that the chief-executive Edward Griffiths hails from the African country, while they have also attempted to play one of their 2012 European matches in Cape Town.
