The Civil Guard Triumphs Over the Roma Community (7-4) in the Second Friendly Football Match in Alicante

Alicante celebrated the eve of the International Roma Day this Sunday with a football match against the Civil Guard, which ended with the latter's victory (7-4). This year's celebration on April 8th is particularly exciting as it marks 600 years since the arrival of the Roma community in Spain.

The match, held at 12 noon at the Garbinet sports complex, was marked by an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship, where everyone felt involved. This year, the Civil Guard, dressed in green and black, achieved the much-desired revenge with a final score of (7-4) after the Roma Community's 9-2 victory in 2024.

The honourary kick-off was performed by the colonel and head of the Civil Guard Command in Alicante, José Hernández Mosquera. He was also presented with a commemorative plaque and a Roma walking stick as a token of gratitude for his commitment and alliances with the Roma community.

This is the second edition of this competition held in Alicante, and like the previous one, it was filled with fun moments and brotherhood. Both teams have been training and selecting their starters for this match, which was evident in the intensity of the competition. However, as highlighted by the Alicante Federation of the Roma Community (FAPG), in this competition "it's not about the competitors but the coexistence, respect, and dedication that were present throughout the match."

The event was also attended by the Alicante City Council's Sports Councillor, Toni Gallego; the Security Councillor, Julio Calero; and the municipal head of Social Welfare, Begoña León. Additionally, some of the province's sports figures, such as the president of Hércules CF, Carlos Parodi, and the technical secretary of Hércules, Paco Peña, also joined.

This initiative has been celebrated in other cities like Valencia or Castellón for over 20 years. However, in Alicante, this will be the second edition. The event serves to break the ice and integrate the entire city into the Roma Day, as advocated by sector entities. Moreover, it creates a memorable atmosphere and is a way to break stereotypes and negative prejudices associated with both groups.

Additionally, the president of the FAPG, Féliz Utrera, explained that this event is an opportunity to "instill values in young people such as respect, sportsmanship, and good coexistence."