STOCKHOLM (AP) — European soccer’s ruling body says there will be a minute’s silence before Manchester United plays Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday as a mark of respect for victims of the bombing in Manchester.
UEFA says “the opening ceremony will also be considerably reduced” in Stockholm after the attack on Monday in Manchester. At least 22 people were killed when an apparent suicide bomber attacked an Ariana Grande concert as the performance ended.
A couple embrace under a billboard in Manchester city centre, Tuesday
May 23, 2017, the day after the suicide attack at an Ariana Grande
concert that left 22 people dead as it ended on Monday night. (AP
Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Manchester United players observed a minute’s silence for the victims at a morning training session on Tuesday before flying to Sweden.
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Europa League final has lost its ‘glow,’ says Ajax coach
STEVE DOUGLAS, AP Sports Writer
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Ajax coach Peter Bosz says the Europa League final against Manchester United “doesn’t have this glow that it should have” because of the deadly bomb attack at a concert in Manchester that killed at least 22 people.
Bosz says of Wednesday’s game in Stockholm: “Tomorrow evening should be a feast. But because of the events in Manchester, we are all affected.”
The attack took place at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in central Manchester.
Bosz said the wives and children of some Ajax players attended one of the pop star’s concerts in Amsterdam about two weeks ago.
United manager Jose Mourinho’s pre-match news conference was canceled at the request of the English club.
There will be a minute’s silence before the final in honor of the victims.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
