OGC Nice’s special new kit is a touching and fitting tribute to the 85 people killed when an attacker drove a lorry into a crowd in the city.
The club have foregone a sponsor across the front of their new shirt for their home match against Stade Rennais. Instead, they have printed the names of all 85 victims on in the place of a sponsor’s logo.
The names are printed in black against the white shirt, and coiled around in the shape of a heart.
Rennes will use the same design on their red shirts for the opener.
This is true class from the two French clubs, and a wonderful tribute to the victims.
Voici le maillot que porteront les Aiglons dimanche en hommage aux victimes du 14 juillet. #OGCNSRFC #TousEnBlanc pic.twitter.com/5RZqEqiuS8
— OGC Nice (@ogcnice) August 10, 2016
The shirt is of particular importance to Rennes midfielder Benjamin André, pictured below, who was born in Nice before beginning his career on the nearby island of Corsica with Ajaccio.
Né à Nice, B. #André est vêtu du maillot que les #RougeEtNoir porteront en hommage aux victimes du 14 juillet. pic.twitter.com/XnsB1gCFSG
— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) August 11, 2016
The Nice v Rennes game will take place at Stade Allianz Riviera – where England lost to Iceland at Euro 2016 – on Sunday afternoon.
According to a statement from OGC Nice, the shirts will be auctioned off after the game, with all proceeds going to victims’ associations.
It follows moving tributes to the victims from Tour de France-winning cyclist Chris Froome and French golfer Clement Sordet.
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