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Football

30th Jun 2016

WATCH: Antoine Griezmann’s classy gesture to bereaved France fan

Great to see

Patrick McCarry

Antoine Griezmann saved his best for Ireland but still found time for a young French supporter after the final whistle.

It was not known to many at the time but France had a very special guest of honour during their 2-1 win over Ireland.

The son of slain police officer Jean-Baptiste Salvaing was at Stade Olympique Lyonnais at the bequest of the French Football Federation.

Salvaing and his girlfriend were murdered in the early hours of June 13 in a suspected act of terrorism. The murders left the couple’s children, Hugo and Mathieu, orphans.

Knowing that Hugo was a keen football fan, the federation reached out to the Police Nationale [French police force] with an invite and some tickets.

The game was drifting away from France when Griezmann stepped up and scored a brace. It shattered Ireland’s Euro 2016 hopes but had the French fans in raptures.

Following the game, Griezmann met up with Hugo to present him with the match ball and pose for a photograph.

Police Nationale also shared a touching letter, sent on behalf of Salvaing’s family, that thanked everyone for rallying around them and the two boys after the murders.

Fair play to Griezmann, the FFF, police force and all involved. A brief ray of sunshine at a dark, dark time.

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