February 1 – Footballers in Greece have staged a sit-down protest as a tribute to hundreds of migrants who have lost their lives trying to reach the Aegean islands.
The show of solidarity took place on Friday before the second-tier league game between AEL Larissa and Acharnaikos.
As the game kicked off all 22 players – as well as coaches and substitutes – sat in silence for two minutes in a show of respect to those who have lost their lives trying to escape conflict or persecution in countries such as Syria and Iraq.
An announcement over the club’s PA system stated: “The administration of AEL, the coaches and the players will observe two minutes of silence just after the start of the match in memory of the hundreds of children who continue to lose their lives every day in the Aegean due to the brutal indifference of the EU and Turkey.”
“The players of AEL will protest by sitting down for two minutes in an effort to drive the authorities to mobilise all those who seem to have been desensitised to the heinous crimes that are being perpetrated in the Aegean.”
In the latest tragic incident, almost 40 refugees reportedly drowned in the Aegean Sea on Saturday after their boat capsized as they attempted the crossing from Turkey to Greece.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1736442928labto1736442928ofdlr1736442928owedi1736442928sni@w1736442928ahsra1736442928w.wer1736442928dna1736442928