php json encode

<?php
    $json=file_get_contents("http://west.basketball.nl/db/json/stand.pl?szn_Naam=2014-2015&cmp_ID=373");
    $data =  json_decode($json);

    if (count($data->stand)) {
        // Open the table
        echo "<table>";

        // Cycle through the array
        foreach ($data->stand as $idx => $stand) {

            // Output a row
            echo "<tr>";
            echo "<td>$stand->afko</td>";
            echo "<td>$stand->positie</td>";
            echo "</tr>";
        }

        // Close the table
        echo "</table>";
    }
?>

$function = "#!!function(){}!!#"; 
$message = "Hello";

$json = array(   
  'message' => $message,
  'func' => $function
);
$string = json_encode($json);
$string = str_replace('"#!!','',$string);
$string = str_replace('!!#"','',$string);
echo $string;