iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Barca has been charged with corruption by Spanish prosecutors for payments between 2001 and 2018 to the company of former refereeing chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, totalling around $7.8 million
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Watch: Fifa legends, workers square off in friendly match at World Cup stadium in Qatar
24 workers play against and alongside legends including Materazzi, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Youri Djorkaeff and Alessandro Del Piero
Workers and Fifa Legends during a friendly match at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. — Courtesy: Fifa
For 24 workers, who worked hard among thousands of others to build the infrastructure facilities, for the Fifa World Cup in Qatar, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In front of more than 5,400 friends and colleagues, they took to the field against and alongside some of the most iconic names in world football, that too at a stadium that was built by them.
The workers had been part of projects related to the eight state-of-the-art stadiums and 42 training sites. They were selected based on their passion for football, their involvement in their community football programmes and their past participation in the Workers’ Cup – an annual tournament organised by the SC and Qatar Football Association for all those working in the country.
The friendly match between Fifa Legends and the workers’ team held at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha.
The Fifa Legends, who included earlier World Cup winners Marco Materazzi, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Youri Djorkaeff and Alessandro Del Piero, played two 30-minute halves. Al Thumama Stadium hosted eight matches during the Fifa World Cup.
Former England captain and two-time Fifa World Cup player John Terry, praised the initiative. “It’s a great idea from Fifa to give back to some of the workers who have put so much hard work into the fantastic stadiums,” he said after the game.
“To open the stadium up to other fans to come and see [it] free of charge, as well. It’s fantastic. It’s just great for them to come and play with us, but also for us to meet them personally, and experience the pitch. As ex-players, it’s always nice.”
ALSO READ:
Meanwhile, one of the participants lining up against the Fifa Legends, Justice Boye Odoi from Ghana, said it was an experience he would never forget. “It was amazing,” he said after the game. “I really enjoyed everything. It was like a dream come true to see some of these guys. They are legends. The emotions were amazing, I enjoyed every bit of it. I was excited to see [Alessandro] Del Piero, especially, and Clarence Seedorf. They are amazing players.
“I went one-on-one with [Marco] Materazzi. That was one of the exciting moments for me. I’ve always dreamed of playing with these guys or seeing them, so it was an amazing experience” he added.
More news from Sports
The U.S. currently bars unvaccinated foreigners from entry into the country, a policy that is expected to be lifted when the government ends its Covid-19 emergency declarations on May 11
With the video assistant referee system (VAR) not operated in second-tier games, Mohamed Farouk had to use the phone of a crowd member during the match between Suez and Al Nasr
The WTA and ATP tours have barred players from Russia and its ally Belarus from competing under their national flags, but insist that individual athletes have a right to compete
Lahore will take on Multan Sultans in the final on Saturday in a repeat of last year's title match
The double world champion showed no ill effects of a stomach bug to top the timesheets
The Afghans take on Pakistan in a three-match T20 series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium
In a tricky chase, India was in trouble at 39-4 before Rahul stayed calm and put on key partnerships including an unbeaten 108-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja, to achieve victory in 39.5 overs