A new European soccer league for amputee players kicked off in Romania's capital

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A new European soccer league kicked off in Romania's capital this week, giving amputee players from countries lacking domestic leagues an opportunity to compete on an international stage. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35).

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A new European soccer league kicked off in Romania's capital this week, giving amputee players from countries lacking domestic leagues an opportunity to compete on an international stage. Read unlimited articles for free today: BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - A new European soccer league kicked off in Romania's capital this week, giving amputee players from countries lacking domestic leagues an opportunity to compete on an international stage.

The European Amputee Football Federation, or EAFF, inaugurated the new Conference League in Bucharest. The games were held Thursday and Friday, and the final concluded on Friday when Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel was crowned the winner after beating Scotland's Ayr United 4-0.

The victory meant a lot to Ben Binyamin of the team from Israel. Back in 2023, the Israeli player had his right leg blown off during the Hamas attack on the Tribe of Nova music festival, which left him fearing he would never play soccer again.

Panathinaikos' Vasileios Gogolos stretches during an amputee soccer match between Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos in the inaugural EAFF Conference League in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Sept. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) "I am very happy that we won this tournament, we won without conceding a single goal," he told The Associated Press.

"Football itself for us is our physiotherapy, our life, and our second family. " Four teams participated in the tournament: FCSB of host nation Romania, Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel, Ayr United of Scotland and Panathinaikos AC PwD of Greece.

"We are very satisfied, very happy to bring pride to the country," Binyamin added. Inspired by the European club competition model in able-bodied soccer, the EAFF described the new league as a "historic milestone" that represents "another important step in the development of European amputee football.

" "The Conference League creates an international opportunity for clubs from countries where domestic amputee football leagues are not yet established," it says on its website. Played in a seven-versus-seven format, on 60-meter (196-foot) by 40-meter (131-foot) fields, amputee soccer is a game for amputees and people living with limb defects.

Players have one leg and a pair of crutches, while goalkeepers have both legs but one hand or arm. Established in 2015, the EAFF aims to help people with amputations or limb defects gain access to amputee soccer throughout Europe.