SEVILLA FC OFFER TO PLAY A FRIENDLY IN MOROCCO IN AID OF THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

There were almost two hundred people present for the meeting at the 'Three Cultures Foundation' in Seville to attend the planned presentation of the 'Amistad Andaluza Marroquí Association - Foro Ibn Rushd (Averroes).' An overriding sense of solidarity with the Moroccan people was palpable in the atmosphere and speeches at the event after the Atlas region was recently struck by a catastrophic earthquake, alongside the fundraising music concert scheduled by the association for the 8th October in Malaga. During proceedings, it was exclusively revealed that Sevilla FC - whose President José Castro was watching on - will take part in a friendly in Morocco in order to raise funds for those affected by the disaster. Castro himself had already informed the Moroccan diplomats present that the proposal for the club to travel to Morocco had been made to the country's football federation, regardless of whether the fixture would be played against their national team or an invitational XI.

In his speech as president of the Association, writer and poet José Sarria that the new foundation – with more than 200 backers from both sides of the divide – was born out of a mutual respecr, love and profound desire to repair the damage made to relations over the centuries.” The Regional Government of Andalusia was represented by the director of the Tres Culturas foundation, Lorena García – who acted as hostess at the event – and Javier Arroyo, the director general of Andalusia Global, who praised the initiative’s efforts in uniting Moroccans across Andalusia. The Association’s manifesto was read out in both Spanish and Arabic, outlining commitments to the development of a programme of activities that nurture academics, artists, intellectuals, cultural and civil rights activists. By allowing them to express themselves, they can form relationships and transmit their messages of harmony and coexistence in the shared territory.

The 'Amistad Andaluza Marroquí Association brings together the Morrocan and Andalusian governments in several different areas to "improve bilateral from a parallel and diplomatic perspective, overcoming challenges and create a space for understanding and dialogue independently from government interference. The Andalusian music group Suhail Serghini gave a performance to round off the event.