Euro 2024: Why was there a minute of silence before the Spain vs Italy match?

There was a minute’s silence before the Spain-Italy Euro 2024 Group B match at the Arena AufSchalke in honor of former UEFA general secretary Gerhard Aigner, who died aged 80 years old.

A former referee, Aigner became UEFA general secretary on 22 September 1989. The position of general secretary was renamed general director on 3 March 1999.

FOLLOW EURO 2024: Live updates from Denmark vs England in Group C

Since 2006, Gerhard Aigner has been a member of the board of directors of Euro-Sportring, a non-profit foundation which organizes international sports tournaments in Europe, particularly for the youth teams of amateur clubs.

In 2010, he became president of Euro-Sportring.

A similar moment of applause was also seen ahead of England’s Group C match against Denmark.