Millwall announce plans to pay tribute to Matija Sarkic

Millwall Football Club have announced they will pay tribute to Matija Sarkic before their 2024-25 Championship opener at The Den against Watford on August 10.

The Lions’ former goalkeeper passed away suddenly on June 15, aged 26, leaving the club and entire footballing community devastated.

The club has been in continuous dialogue with the Sarkic family since his passing, and alongside first-team and senior management at The Den, considered numerous tribute ideas to remember Matija by.

Millwall  have confirmed they will be retiring the number 20 shirt.

Plans are also under way to produce a mural painting of Sarkic which will feature in the Cold Blow Lane concourse.

The club will also introduce the opportunity for fans to vote for their 2024-25 save of the season, with the winner presented with the Matija Sarkic Award.

The club will be joined at The Den for the Watford match by Matija’s parents, Bojan and Natalie, brothers Oliver and Danilo, and partner Phoebe.

From 12.15pm, the Sarkic family will be pitchside for the duration of the commemorations, which will start with a tribute video – in memory of Matija – that will play on the big screen.

At its conclusion, the players and officials, wearing black armbands, will emerge from the tunnel with both captains carrying wreaths.

A minute’s applause will then take place as both sides gather at the centre-circle, before the skippers lay their respective wreaths behind each goal.

Millwall have asked supporters to take their seats early to ensure they do not miss any of the planned tributes.

Further matchday information – and ticket selling arrangements for the game – will be released in due course.