A minute’s silence will be held at sporting fixtures across France this weekend out of respect for the victims of the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper.

Twelve people died in the attack on the Paris offices of the weekly newspaper, which had been threatened before for its caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.

A statement from the French Football Federation yesterday read: “Following the terrible attack yesterday at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo, the French Football Federation has decided to observe a minute’s silence this weekend at national and regional matches.

“The entire family of French football joins the general spirit of solidarity and affirms its support for the families of the victims.”

The Ligue 1 clash between Lille and Evian on Wednesday night was the first to be preceded by a minute’s silence. Today’s clash between Montpellier and Marseille, and all the weekend’s fixtures, will follow suit.

Marseille, like many clubs, conducted their pre-match press conferences behind a sign reading “Je Suis Charlie” — the slogan, meaning “I Am Charlie,” under which support for the victims has mounted.

OM coach Marcelo Bielsa’s appearance started with the victims being honoured by a minute’s standing applause from the Argentinian, his interpreter, the media in attendance and a club press officer after the latter announced: “We are all Charlie.”

Eight journalists, two police officers, a maintenance worker and a visitor were killed in the attack, prosecutor Francois Molins said. He said 11 people were wounded — four of them seriously.

The governing body for French rugby union, the Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR), also announced that a minute’s silence will be held before the next round of matches in the top two divisions.

It posted on Twitter: “The Top 14 and Pro D2 will also respect a minute of silence.”

The French Basketball Federation followed suit and there will also be one-minute silences at the French Cyclo-cross Championships at Pontchateau.