LEBANON: Rival politicians face off in friendly soccer match

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It was like a soccer match, but much, much slower. Then again, Lebanon’s ruling elite are better known for their maneuvering off the field.

The friendly 30-minute scrimmage took place Tuesday evening in Beirut’s main stadium, where opposing politicians faced off on the soccer field to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the start of Lebanon’s bitter 15-year civil war.

The teams were led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, leader of the U.S.- and Saudi-backed majority, and lawmaker Ali Ammar of the Iran- and Syria-backed militant group Hezbollah, although the teams were mixed politically.

The only two goals were scored for Hariri’s team by 29-year-old lawmaker Sami Gameyel, among the youngest on the field.

The televised game, which was not open to spectators except for members of the media and a few VIP guests, was intended as a symbol of unity and friendly competition. But reactions were mixed: Some thought it was all in good fun, others were offended, and some a bit of both.

Lebanese political blogger Elias Muhanna called the choice of memorial ‘absurdly fitting.’

He described the match as ‘a bunch of politicians gathering together to replay their heroic struggles away from the prying eyes of their meddlesome followers, who will simply have to wait patiently for the results.’

Although Muhanna may have been writing under the assumption the game would not be televised, his comments spoke to a frustration felt by many.

‘They are capable of having a laugh, but they are not capable of solving our problems,’ a 21-year-old student named Roula told the told the BBC. ‘By playing this ridiculous game, they are laughing at us.’

– Meris Lutz in Beirut

Video: A clip of the only two goals scored by lawmaker Sami Gemayel. Credit: YouTube.