Members of the national team of Asian Football Confederation-member Palestine, joined with players from neighbouring UEFA-member Israel in a friendly against a team representing the southern Spanish region of Andalusia on Wednesday. Organised by the Peres Centre for Peace, the game attracted 35,000 fans to Seville’s Sanchez Pijuan Stadium where Israeli Vice-Premier Shimon Peres and French football great Michel Platini performed the honorary kick-off.
Israeli singer Noa performed beforehand and 1,500 children formed the word “peace” in Spanish on the field. The proceeds from the match are to go towards financing schools in Palestinian territories in a project sponsored by the Andalusian regional government.
As for the game, Andalusia beat the Palestinian-Israeli team 3-1. The Associated Press reported that Dani Guiza, who plays for Getafe in Spain’s First Division, scored in the fifth and 22nd minutes. Pablo Alfaro, captain of Sevilla, the Spanish league leaders, added Andalusia’s third goal in the 69th. Klemi Saban, a defender who plays at Romania’s Steaua Bucharest, scored for Palestine-Israel in the 43rd.
Israeli singer Noa performed beforehand and 1,500 children formed the word “peace” in Spanish on the field. The proceeds from the match are to go towards financing schools in Palestinian territories in a project sponsored by the Andalusian regional government.
As for the game, Andalusia beat the Palestinian-Israeli team 3-1. The Associated Press reported that Dani Guiza, who plays for Getafe in Spain’s First Division, scored in the fifth and 22nd minutes. Pablo Alfaro, captain of Sevilla, the Spanish league leaders, added Andalusia’s third goal in the 69th. Klemi Saban, a defender who plays at Romania’s Steaua Bucharest, scored for Palestine-Israel in the 43rd.