Fans showed the ultimate gesture of hospitality during the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship when the team from Pakistan came onto the field to play against India on Wednesday at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
The people who filled up the bleachers during the game informed the audience online that most were courteous and respectful of the players that came into the country from neighbouring countries.
India and Pakistan are not exactly best known for their hospitality when a match between the two countries plays out on the field. The two countries have long butted heads in not only territorial and political matters, but they have also been at odds when it comes to playing against each other on the sports field.
Well, while this animosity has been recorded in the past during essential cricket matches, fans refuse to let the same toxicity travel onto the?football scene. This time, viewers at the Bengaluru match made sure that they displayed their open hearts for the Pakistani team and also showed respect to the country.
An audience member from the game informed people on Twitter that not only did all the spectators stand up for the Pakistani national anthem as well as the Indian one, but the audience also held up banners to call for peace and love between the two countries.
Twitter user Sudipto Mondal was excited about the crowd's reaction to the players from the neighbouring country. He posted a clip of the moment when everyone stood up for the Pakistani national anthem. Mondal expressed how he was super proud of the people of Bengaluru for their actions and wrote, "My city."
People on the internet breathed a sigh of relief and felt proud of their Bengaluru counterparts, who honoured both teams equally. One user was overjoyed that Pakistan and India finally had their heartwarming moment in the midst of churning online hatred.? ?
While one mentioned how football, unlike cricket, does not divide opposing teams into potential enemies.?
Another mentioned how the incident was a major boost to their mood and had plastered a smile on their face.
?One more noted how they were pleased to hear of the locals attempts at respecting the Pakistani players.??
For those wondering what became of the match, India won the game by a considerable margin and scored four goals in comparison to Pakistan¡¯s nill.
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