Football team named after Pope Francis has two players red carded in first match

Ernesto Ortiz of Papa Francisco football team disappointed after missing his chance

The Papa Francisco football team played its inaugural match at a Catholic site named Lujan against Trefules where the game ended evenly with a 2-2 scoreline but not before four players from both the teams were given their marching orders.

The Argentinian outfit founded by Jose Ramirez, named the squad after his idol Pope Francis with an aim to promote non-violence in the game.

But the display from Ramirez’s team was quite the opposite as two players were sent off due to behavioural issues.

After the match, the players admitted the fact that it is going to be very difficult for them to keep their cool in every match.

“It will be a complicated thing if we insult others,” midfielder Fabian Gaddi said, “but the pope is Argentinian and he knows and understands us.”

The semi professional team which plays in the lower division of the Argentinian league has 47 members and was formed in Ramirez’s house just after cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named as the Pope. Pope Francis who is famously known as a fan of San Lorenzo has no official ties with Ramirez’s team.

Nicknamed as The Saint of the South, the club stands as a symbol against the corruption and violence that have haunted Argentina’s football over the years particularly by gangs known as barras bravas.The Argentinian Football Association has failed to address these problems over the years and are very much to be blamed for these circumstances.

There were second thoughts in Jose Ramirez’s decision to name the club with the option of Real Buenos Aires crossing his mind. But the president opted to name his club after the Argentina born Pope as a sign of respect.