The English Premier League has announced the French national anthem will be played before all matches this weekend in remembrance for those affected by the terror attacks on Paris.

There are 72 French players at top-flight clubs, the biggest number from a single nationality after England, and a choral version of La Marseillaise will be played after the coin toss, with players from both teams joining officials in the centre circle facing the main stand.

Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: “Given how close we are as well as the long-standing relationship that exists between the Premier League and France, playing La Marseillaise as an act of solidarity and remembrance is the right thing to do.

“We were all saddened and deeply shocked by the events in Paris last Friday, and the fact it was an attack on people enjoying their everyday freedoms like going to a bar, a concert or a football match resonates with football fans and the general public throughout the UK.”

The move follows England and France fans joining together to sing La Marseillaise at Tuesday’s friendly international at Wembley, to remember the 129 people who died. England fans also held aloft a mosaic of the French flag during the national anthem.

Arsenal’s French boss Arsene Wenger whose side play at West Brom tomorrow, said: “I think it’s a nice gesture of solidarity. It’s not an obvious one for the fans, just like it would not be an obvious one for fans in France to sing God Save the Queen, because they don’t know the words.

“Symbolically it’s a very nice gesture.”