The European Football Association (UEFA) announced today, Monday, a minute of silence before each match in its competitions this week, in mourning for the victims of the devastating earthquakes that struck the Turkish-Syrian border.

So far, more than 33,000 people have been confirmed dead due to the earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria last Monday, and the United Nations relief agency has stated that the number is likely to double.

Turkey announced that more than a million citizens are living in temporary shelters after the collapse of their homes, while it is estimated that more than 5 million people in Syria have become homeless.

Before the matches scheduled for this week in the Champions League, European League and Conference League, UEFA announced details of honoring the victims in an expression of support for those affected.

Each match in European competitions will be preceded by a minute of silence, and a banner bearing the phrase "We are with you" in Turkish and Arabic will be raised.

And the European Football Association stated - in a statement issued today - that black armbands can be worn, at the discretion of teams and referees.

UEFA announced last week that it would donate 150,000 euros ($160,000) to the Turkish Football Federation and another 50,000 to organizations helping with disaster relief.

UEFA and our partner, the @UEFA_Foundation, have made an initial donation of €200,000 to support the vast humanitarian operation assisting victims of last Monday's two devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

Full story: ⬇️

— UEFA (@UEFA) February 10, 2023

Trabzonspor is the only Turkish team competing in European competitions this week, as it meets Swiss Basel in the European Conference League.

The Istanbul Basaksehir and Sivaspor teams qualified for the round of 16 in the competition as leaders of their two groups, and Fenerbahce qualified for the same round in the European League Championship.

Hatayspor and Gaziantepspor clubs, which are located in the area affected by the earthquake, withdrew from the Turkish Premier League competitions temporarily.

It should be noted that Christian Atsu, the former Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton player, and the current player for Hatayspor, is still missing.

Son adam @gianluigibuffon

Tarihin en iyisi Gianluigi Buffon imzalı eldivenleri ile destek oluyor.


Efsane'nin eldivenlerini açık artırmayla satışa çıkarıyoruz.

Gelir deprem bölgesinde kullanılmak üzere @ahbap 'a bağışlanacaktır.

Katkıları için Deniz Agnelli'ye çok teşekkürler.

pic.twitter.com/93GPWk9dgb

- Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) February 13, 2023

Buffon's glove auctioned to support earthquake victims

On the other hand, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon participated in the aid campaign launched by Turkish player Merih Demiral for the earthquake victims in Turkey a few days ago.

And the international goalkeeper announced today, through his official account on Twitter, that a glove signed by Buffon will be offered at a charity auction to support those affected by the earthquake.

Demiral had launched an ongoing campaign to sell the shirts of a number of football stars during charitable auctions, the profits of which go to those affected by the earthquake in Turkey.

Among the stars - whose shirts the player offered for auction - French Karim Benzema, Argentine Lionel Messi, French Kylian Mbappe.

The auction witnessed a wide turnout since its inception, as the player sold Ronaldo, Dybala and Bonucci shirts for 5 million liras ($270,000), followed by De Bruyne, Hazard and Morata shirts for one million liras ($54,000).

Sırada Lionel Messi var;

Leo'nun maçta giyip imzaladığı formasını açık artırmayla satıyoruz!

Satıştan eldest edilecek gelir deprem bölgesinde kullanılmak üzere @ahbap 'a bağışlanacaktır.


Lionel Messi ile iletişime geçip durumu anlatan @hakanc10 ve @gigiodonna1 'ya çok teşekkürler pic.twitter.com/6INZsnWaA8

- Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) February 10, 2023

Sırada @Benzema var.

Karim Benzema'nın maçta giyip imzaladığı formasını açık artırmayla satıyoruz!

Satıştan eldest edilecek gelir deprem bölgesinde kullanılmak üzere @ahbap 'a bağışlanacaktır.@hakanc10'a çok teşekkürler.

pic.twitter.com/pm86dBkMFg

- Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) February 11, 2023

Next one @KMbappe

He wanted to support earthquake victims with our campaign.

We are selling Kylian Mbappe's signed jersey by auction!

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to @ahbap to help victims of the earthquake in Türkiye 🇹🇷

many thanks to @hakanc10 pic.twitter.com/QLuirPPRhZ

- Merih Demiral (@Merihdemiral) February 10, 2023