Fans continue to pay respects to victims of Paris attacks
PARIS (AP) - Standing in the middle of the field, a teenage girl sang France's national anthem as fans held French flags and joined in a heartfelt rendition of La Marseillaise before Caen's game against Angers on Sunday.
The French league resumed this weekend in the wake of last week's attacks in Paris, where 130 people died, and fans paid their respects from Normandy to Brittany and all the way down to Corsica.
"I've never experienced a minute's silence such as this," Angers coach Stephane Moulin said. "When you feel such solidarity, it's something huge."
There were no away fans at any games this weekend, so as not to stretch the nation's police forces any further.
The matches themselves had little resonance, but Caen moved back up to third place after drawing 0-0, while Angers sits in fifth place. Both are way behind runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain, which played Saturday. Later Sunday, Saint-Etienne was hosting Marseille.
Bastia hosted Gazelec Ajaacio in the Corsican derby at Stade Armand Cesari. A banner spread on the pitch read "Ripusate in Pace" (Rest in Peace). The national anthem was followed by a minute's applause as balloons were released.
"It gave me goose-bumps," Gazelec coach Thierry Laurey said.
Before the 2002 French Cup final, some Bastia fans whistled the national anthem at Stade de France. On Sunday, one group of supporters - Bastia 1905 - only entered the stadium after it was played.
Bastia took an early lead through Brazilian striker Brandao, but Gazelec earned a valuable 2-1 win thanks to Cameroon forward Jacques Zoua's penalty and strike partner Khalid Boutaib's second-half goal.
In chilly Brittany, dozens of children dressed either all in blue, white or red formed a human French flag in the center circle moments before the match between Rennes and Bordeaux.
Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol looked close to tears as he shut his eyes tightly during the minute's silence at the Roazhon Park stadium, where the national anthem was heartily sung moments later.
The peaceful mood was ruined when Bordeaux players reacted furiously after referee Sebastien Moreira awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of injury time. Replays showed that Bordeaux midfielder Clement Chantome had blocked a cross with his arm, but the visitors' bench reacted strongly.
Sagnol had to push away his own players and several other staff members restrained defender Nicolas Pallois as he tried to confront Moreira.
Striker Giovanni Sio's spot kick was saved by Cedric Carrasso, meaning Rennes has missed all four penalties this season, and the score finished 2-2.
Bordeaux twice came from behind, with striker Enzo Crivelli cancelling out 18-year-old Ousmane Demebele's early goal, and defender Diego Contento replying late in the second half shortly after Poland forward Kamil Grosicki had made it 2-1.
Outside of France, the attacks were remembered as far away as Mexico.
Before the match between Tigres and Cruz Azul In Mexico, fans held up yellow placards - the colors of Tigres - with the Eiffel Tower printed on them and observed a minute's silence. Then, the stadium loudspeakers played late French singer Edith Piaf's best-loved song: "La Vie en Rose."
In a remarkable gesture, Hamilton Academical wore the French national team jersey for their Scottish Premier League match against Aberdeen.