The scene did not go unnoticed on Thursday evening, before the kick-off of the match between Maccabi Haifa and Villarreal in the Europa League. While the two teams were preparing to observe a minute of silence in tribute to the Israeli victims, two Villarreal players, Aïssa Mandi and Ilias Akhomach, refused to take part.
Villarreal takes a stand for all victims without distinction
The two footballers, one Spaniard of Moroccan origin and the other Algerian, left their teammates when regrouping, to return just after and participate in this match (won 2-1 by the Spaniards) which was played at Cyprus due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
According to the Spanish daily MarcaVillarreal had informed UEFA and Maccabi before the meeting that his delegation would take advantage of this minute of silence to pay tribute to all the victims of the war, without distinction.