For the first time in five years, professional football returned to the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo on January 28.
For the first time in five years, professional football returned to the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo on January 28.
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Al-Ittihad beat local rival Al-Hurriya 2-1 in its first match on home turf since rebels took eastern Aleppo in 2012.
Al-Ittihad beat local rival Al-Hurriya 2-1 in its first match on home turf since rebels took eastern Aleppo in 2012.
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Al-Ittihad took the lead inside the first minute through Mohamad Muhtadi.
Al-Ittihad took the lead inside the first minute through Mohamad Muhtadi.
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Al-Hurriya equalized not long before half time thanks to Firas Al Ahmad.
Al-Hurriya equalized not long before half time thanks to Firas Al Ahmad.
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In the final few seconds, Al-Ittihad midfielder Mohamed Sorour scored the winning goal which kept his side top of the league on that weekend at the end of January, while Al-Hurriya remained in the relegation places.
In the final few seconds, Al-Ittihad midfielder Mohamed Sorour scored the winning goal which kept his side top of the league on that weekend at the end of January, while Al-Hurriya remained in the relegation places.
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But Thaer, an opposition citizen journalist, doesn't feel the match is cause for celebration. "They are playing football on the ruins of Aleppo," he told CNN.
But Thaer, an opposition citizen journalist, doesn't feel the match is cause for celebration. "They are playing football on the ruins of Aleppo," he told CNN.
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Thaer says he was forced to flee Aleppo during the December evacuation and now lives in Turkey. "This is a media war, to show the regime has gotten Aleppo back and made it safe."
Thaer says he was forced to flee Aleppo during the December evacuation and now lives in Turkey. "This is a media war, to show the regime has gotten Aleppo back and made it safe."
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The two teams pose with match officials before kick-off.
The two teams pose with match officials before kick-off.
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"The last match I saw was in 2010," Mohammed Ali, a football fan in Aleppo told AFP news agency. "It was bigger, and there were more people. Hopefully there will be a lot of people this time."
"The last match I saw was in 2010," Mohammed Ali, a football fan in Aleppo told AFP news agency. "It was bigger, and there were more people. Hopefully there will be a lot of people this time."
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"Now, I am here with my friends, but some have traveled (out of Aleppo or Syria) and others were martyred (during the conflict)," he continued. "Now, we are back to watch the match. I hope that every game will be played in Aleppo in the future."
"Now, I am here with my friends, but some have traveled (out of Aleppo or Syria) and others were martyred (during the conflict)," he continued. "Now, we are back to watch the match. I hope that every game will be played in Aleppo in the future."
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"It's a nice sport, a beautiful sport," football fan Ahmad Dahman told AFP. "It's art. It is the most enjoyable sport of all."
"It's a nice sport, a beautiful sport," football fan Ahmad Dahman told AFP. "It's art. It is the most enjoyable sport of all."
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"The residents of Aleppo love sports and they supported Al-Ittihad," Thaer says. "When there would be games the stadium would be full and tickets would be sold out."
"The residents of Aleppo love sports and they supported Al-Ittihad," Thaer says. "When there would be games the stadium would be full and tickets would be sold out."
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"But now look at the stadium, it's a few hundred people," added Thaer. "Before the revolution we supported Al-Ittihad because they were our team in Aleppo."
"But now look at the stadium, it's a few hundred people," added Thaer. "Before the revolution we supported Al-Ittihad because they were our team in Aleppo."
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Amid the celebration and fanfare inside the stadium, police in riot gear provided evidence of the city's recent division.
Amid the celebration and fanfare inside the stadium, police in riot gear provided evidence of the city's recent division.
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As did a poster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which loomed over the stands.
As did a poster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which loomed over the stands.
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"But when the protests began the team split -- some who were against the government were forced to leave or detained," said Thaer.
"But when the protests began the team split -- some who were against the government were forced to leave or detained," said Thaer.
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"We don't consider this a sports team, we consider them regime recruits; members of the government. Support for them has left our hearts."
"We don't consider this a sports team, we consider them regime recruits; members of the government. Support for them has left our hearts."
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