Fans, Teams United in Aftermath of Paris Attacks

From Sao Paulo to Shanghai, London to Prague, sport defiantly united in its condemnation of the Paris attacks on Saturday as teams and fans resorted to extraordinary measures in the aftermath of the killings.

The world champion German football team, which had been playing France at Paris's Stade de France when three suicide bombers struck outside the arena on Friday, took the unusual step of spending the night inside the dressing rooms before flying home on Saturday morning. (Horror For Fans During France-Germany Friendly in Paris)

"The players were very worried, the information was not very clear and we didn't want to take any risk on the road, so we decided not to drive through Paris.... (which was) not 100 percent secured and so we stayed in the dressing room," said Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff.

France will next play England at Wembley in London on Tuesday where even notoriously tribal English fans are being encouraged to learn the words to France's stirring national anthem, the Marseillaise ahead of the game. (England-France Friendly to go Ahead: French Federation)

Mark Pougatch, a football presenter with Britain's ITV television channel, who will be broadcasting the match, tweeted on Saturday: "If you have a ticket for Wembley on Tuesday then it's time to learn La Marseillaise. Time to show what fraternite is about."

If you have a ticket for Wembley on Tuesday then it's time to learn La Marseillaise. Time to show what fraternite is about.

- Mark Pougatch (@markpougatch) November 14, 2015

There had been doubts over whether or not the game would go ahead in the aftermath of the attacks.

"After talks with the English FA who assured us there was no particular risk in holding the match, we decided to go ahead," a French federation spokesman told AFP.

"If British authorities came to re-evaluate the situation, obviously the question of holding the match or not would be addressed." (Shaken German Team Spent Night in Paris Stadium After Attacks)

The Marseillaise was also played before the European Champions Cup rugby match involving English side Saracens and French giants Toulouse in north London on Saturday.

Across France, major sports fixtures including rugby games in the European Cup were called off.

Elsewhere in London, no stranger to deadly militant attacks, security for this week's ATP World Tour Finals was bolstered as the world's top eight tennis players prepared to play at the O2 arena on the banks of the Thames.

Superstars Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are all slated to play at the 20,000-capacity stadium.

"Venue security is monitored at all times to ensure the safety of all our visitors," said a spokesman who added all bags will be searched while fans will be banned from bringing in their own food and drink.

In Prague, meanwhile, tennis star Maria Sharapova, the world's highest earning sportswoman, expressed her sadness at the events in Paris where she was French Open champion in 2012 and 2014.

"I fell asleep last night so I wasn't aware of anything until this morning. (It's) a big shock. It's one of my favourite cities in the world and it's obviously very tough to see the news and the pictures," said Sharapova, who was in the Czech capital playing for Russia in the Fed Cup final.

Driving to O2 Arena, with Paris in my heart. #PrayForParis pic.twitter.com/RMgMC4IieL

- Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) November 14, 2015

At the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, French driver Romain Grosjean took to the track wearing a black armband while his Lotus car sported #PrayForParis on its bodywork.

At the Shanghai golf Masters, the seven French players taking part wore black as a mark of respect if they had such clothing with them.

#PrayForParis pic.twitter.com/S9OWLKYcaT

- Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) November 14, 2015

Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson wore a black shirt, black sweater and a black visor.