Players and spectators at Stade de France remained unaware of the attacks outside
Both coaches, Didier Deschamps and Joachim Low were made aware of the crisis unfolding outside in Paris and about the explosion they heard during the former stages of the match. However, they decided to keep the news to themselves and not let the players deter from their objectives, according to the New York Times.
The NY Times were told so by a high ranking official that the coaches had been informed that a situation was developing in Paris but had no information about the severity of the events. As a result of the coaches decision to let the game go on and some poor cell phone reception in the stadium, things went on as usual on the pitch and in the stadium.
One of the journalists present there, Cyril Olivès-Berthet, spoke about the atmosphere in the stadium during the match. He said that the fans were as usual backing their players and the players were giving their all, completely oblivious of the matter.
“The players were running and doing their game, and the fans were chanting their normal chants, ‘Aux Armes, Aux Armes,’ a typical chant that is a warrior thing about taking arms and going to war. When France scored the second goal late in the game, they all waved their flags, and the players celebrated like they always do,” Cyril said, who works for French journal L’Équipe.
The referee too was clueless
The referee for the International Friendly between France and Germany, Antonio Mateu Lahoz had no idea what was unfolding outside in the streets of Paris until after the match got over, the Daily Mail reports.
The explosion which took place just outside the Stade de France was heard clearly inside the stadium, but no one had a concrete idea as to what had actually happened. The players and the officials were also not sure about what was happening as the match was played at full tempo. They got a clear picture of the incident only after the final whistle and subsequently both the teams decided to spend the night in the stadium’s dressing rooms itself.
Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz talked to AS about his experience.
“We had no idea about what was going on until after the game had ended,” the Spanish official said.
“We have all been through some very difficult moments, moments of great uncertainty because, at first, we were told that we were not allowed to leave the stadium, but now things are a little calmer. This is a very troubling, tough moment and I don’t really feel like speaking right now.”
The 38-year old referee said that they came to know about the incidents through the media persons who were in attendance at the stadium.
“We found out about what was happening through the press who were attending the game and the television,” he said.