Divisions within Libya surface as the nation's soccer tournament unfolds in Italy
The excitement was palpable as the top three teams from each league made their way to Italy, with hopes of returning home to a heroes' reception. However, the 2024-2025 Libyan Premier League final was held in Milan, Italy, rather than Libya, due to ongoing political instability and security concerns within the country.
The decision to hold the playoffs abroad was necessitated by the political and security challenges in Libya, which make hosting such high-profile sporting events risky and complicated domestically. The final in Milan, at the "Sina di Mida" stadium, illustrated this arrangement.
The relocation ensured a safer, more controlled environment for players, officials, and fans, preventing disruptions related to local conflicts or unsafe conditions that have become common in Libya in recent years. Italy's geographical proximity, existing infrastructure, and neutrality in Libyan domestic conflicts make it a practical choice for staging the decisive matches.
The final match, between Al-Ahli Tripoli and other contenders, was a testament to Libya's passion for soccer and the explosive enmity between Tripoli's two most successful teams, Al Ittihad and Al Ahly Tripoli. The game, however, descended into chaos, with tensions between fans rising and clashes starting, resulting in a melee that took almost 30 minutes to bring under control.
The game in Sesto San Giovanni required a sizeable police operation, including units of armed military police, due to tensions and clashes between fans. Despite not being permitted inside the stadium, fans of both teams travelled from various countries to support their teams.
One such fan, Mohammed al Hamdi, a supporter of Al Ahli, arrived from Libya to support his team. Despite the chaotic scene at the stadium, al Hamdi remained steadfast, cheering his team on to the bus at the gates.
The transplanted tournament is a measure of Libya's passion for soccer, a passion that transcends the country's political instability. The game was part of a collaboration between Italian and Libyan authorities, with Valentina Battistini, the Lombardy region's top soccer official, issuing a warning for the match to restart with the police in riot gear standing guard in front of the winning team's bench.
The decision to hold the final in Italy was not without its controversies. At last season's Libyan competition in Italy, the winning team's president, a son of Khalifa Hifter, the dictator who rules eastern Libya, was prevented from entering a field in Rome for the awards ceremony because Italy recognizes only Libya's transitional government.
Despite these challenges, the Libyan soccer league continues to thrive, mirroring the country's political landscape with one competition played in the east, a region overseen by a military strongman, and another in the west, where a transitional government struggles for legitimacy.
In Milan, the city home to one of soccer's fiercest global rivalries, between AC and Inter, the Libyan final was a testament to the power of sports to bring people together, despite the political and security challenges that persist in Libya.
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Given the ongoing political and security challenges in Libya, the 2024-2025 Libyan Premier League final was held in Milan, showcasing European-leagues rivalry with top teams like Serie-A participating. Despite the chaos and tensions during the final match, the transplanting of the tournament highlights Libya's passion for football, especially the enmity between Serie A teams Al Ittihad and Al Ahly Tripoli, echoing the country's political landscape with separate competitions in the east and west.
