The world association FIFA has called on the organizers of football competitions around the world to observe a minute’s silence before each game in honor of the icon Pele who died.
The intention was to commemorate the legendary Brazilian this weekend and the coming week, FIFA wrote in a letter to its member associations that was available to the German Press Agency.
“As long as football is played, Pele will be remembered and missed,” wrote FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. “Pelé brought the magic of South American football to the world and gave meaning to the phrase ‘The Beautiful Game’.”
Even before the FIFA letter, the three major European leagues in England, Italy and Spain had decided to honor Pelé with minutes of silence on the current matchday.
In the Premier League, there is a one-minute applause in honor of the Brazilian until Sunday before the game kicks off.
Pelé died on Thursday at the age of 82 from complications from cancer in São Paulo.