Football shows Libya, Morocco disasters solidarity at stadiums

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 17 September 2023

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LONDON - Usually raucous football stadiums across the world observed a moment of silence this weekend in memory of the victims of recent disasters in Libya and Morocco which had claimed thousands of lives.

A moment's silence fell at matches in the English, French, and Spanish top leagues, at the Confederation of African Football's Super Cup, and elsewhere this weekend as a mark of respect for the victims of an earthquake that devastated parts of Morocco and floods that ravaged eastern Libya.

At English Premier League matches, a moment's silence was observed, and players as well as match officials wore black armbands in what the Premier League said was "a sign of respect" for the victims of the disasters. The gestures will be made at matches taking place until Monday, the league said.

Libyan and Moroccan flags were projected on stadium screens during the silence at stadiums.

The French Football Association and the Spanish top flight La Liga announced earlier this week that its matches would feature a minute's silence for the victims. The Spanish league said its La Liga Foundation would be donating to disaster relief for both causes.

Individual teams also made gestures of solidarity.

French top-flight team L’Olympique de Marseille said earlier this week that its players would wear jerseys bearing a message of solidarity for Libya and Morocco during its home game against Toulouse on Sunday.

The club said that the player-worn jerseys will be auctioned off to raise funds for Secours Popular Francais, which has taken part in the emergency response in the two countries.

Fellow French team Nice also wore their solidarity, sporting jerseys that read 'Support for Morocco' during their match against Paris Saint-Germain on Friday.

The CAF Super Cup final was held in the Saudi Arabian city of Taif, where Algerian side USM Alger upset the odds with a 1-0 victory over Egypt's Al-Ahly.

A minute's silence was held and fans in the stadium at the all-North African affair bore signs with messages of support for Libyans and Moroccans.

Similar shows of solidarity have been made at other sporting spectacles, including at the Rugby World Cup.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck close to the city of Marrakesh on 8 September. The official death toll for the flood is now over 3,000.

Thousands march in Brussels on anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 16 September 2023

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BRUSSELS - Iranian emigres marched in Brussels on Friday, the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman whose death in the custody of Iran's morality police sparked months of anti-government protests.

Thousands of demonstrators, holding up pictures of Amini and many others killed in the protests, called for the overthrow of Iran's theocracy and the establishment of a democratic republic.

Organisers said they had also demanded a unified European Union policy to hold Iran's Shi'ite clerical rulers accountable for abuses.

The protests that followed the death of Amini, arrested for allegedly flouting the Islamic Republic's mandatory dress code, spiralled into the biggest show of opposition to the Iranian authorities in years.

Over 500 people including 71 minors were killed, hundreds injured and thousands arrested, rights groups say, in unrest that was eventually crushed by security forces.

The Tehran government has accused the United States and Israel and their local agents of fomenting the unrest to destabilise Iran.

Spain coach Jorge Vilda sacked as Luis Rubiales fallout continues

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Written by northsouth

Category: Europe

Published: 05 September 2023

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MADRID - The Spanish FA (RFEF) have sacked coach Jorge Vilda just weeks after he led Spain to the Women’s World Cup.

La Roja’s first-ever triumph in the competition came against the backdrop of discontent inside the dressing room with players engulfed in a long-running row with the 42-year-old over their conditions, which had previously led to 15 players going on strike.

While the saga momentarily appeared to have been pushed to one side with the team’s victory in Australia, it erupted with the RFEF president Luis Rubiales’ non-consensual kiss on midfielder Jenni Hermoso at the World Cup trophy ceremony.

Rubiales refused to resign for the incident and threatened legal action against Hermoso, before receiving a round of applause from members at an emergency RFEF summit.

Vilda was among those spotted clapping the president but made a public U-turn shortly afterwards and condemned his actions.

“I regret deeply that the victory of Spanish women's football has been harmed by the inappropriate behaviour that our until now top leader, Luis Rubiales, has carried out and that he himself has recognised,” he said in a statement after his entire coaching staff quit in protest.

“There is no doubt that it is unacceptable and does not reflect at all the principles and values that I defend in my life, in sport in general and in football in particular.”

Rubiales, 46, has been suspended by FIFA pending an investigation, having initially apologised, while his stand-in, Pedro Rocha, has formally apologised to the footballing community for his predecessor’s actions.

Reports in Spain suggest Rubiales had offered Vilda a new contract last month, to continue his eight-year term in charge of the team.

The former Real Madrid youth player joined the national side set-up in 2009 as a women’s youth coach.

An RFEF statment confirming the news read: “The RFEF would like to express its gratitude to Jorge Vilda for the services provided, for his professionalism and dedication during all these years, wishing him the best successes in the future.

“The RFEF is left with an extraordinary sporting legacy thanks to the implementation of a recognised game model and a methodology that has been an engine of growth for all the women's categories of the national team.”