Morocco’s national football team players took a break from practice on Sunday to donate blood to help victims of the country’s deadly earthquake.
A 6.8 magnitude quake that struck southwest of the Moroccan city Marrakech, had claimed the lives of at least 2,012 people.
The largest earthquake to hit the nation in 120 years according to the Interior Ministry, left at least 2,059 people injured, 1,404 of them were in serious condition.
The Moroccan Atlas Lions, who were scheduled to play Liberia in an African Cup of Nations qualification match, confirmed on Saturday that the game has been postponed with the Confederation of African Football's approval due to the damage.
The football players, as shown in the video posted online, donated blood to earthquake victims rather than using the extra time to train, sharing their experience in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Several athletes, including Cristiano Ronaldo, expressed their condolences to the victims on social media.
“It is time to help each other to save as many lives as possible,” Morocco star Achraf Hakimi wrote on Instagram. “My condolences to all who lost a loved one.”
Forward Walid Cheddira wrote: “My heart breaks for my country. Living in this moment is not easy for everyone. Our thoughts are with all the victims and injured. May Allah bless them.”
Cristiano Ronaldo sent his "love and prayers to all in Morocco at this very difficult time" along with other athletes' condolences from across the sporting world.
On the Chinese version of Twitter, Weibo, Ronaldo's post drew the attention of football fans, and on Sunday the message of the player was trending.
On Tuesday, the Atlas Lions will take on Burkina Faso in a friendly encounter in France.
