MILAN – AC Milan v Inter will be the Derby for Peace. On Sunday 31 December, the match between the Rossoneri and the Nerazzurri will be played in the name of peace alongside Scholas, the pontifical foundation founded by Pope Francis I to promote integration via sport, art and technology.
The Derby for Peace initiative, which was unveiled on Thursday at a press conference at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, will be symbolically marked with the planting of an olive tree by the captains of the two sides before kick-off.
Representing Inter at San Siro today were Javier Zanetti and Mauro Icardi.
"It’s really important that we take part in this type of initiative,” said the vice president. "I was lucky enough to be able to organise my match for peace, and Pope Francis’ message was to bring together all religions in the world with that match. On Sunday we have a chance to stand up for some important values. Let’s hope it’s a start.
"Aside from the result, I hope peace is the winner and that our beloved Pope is happy. It’s going to be sold out and the match will be broadcast in hundreds of countries. The derby is a fantastic match and I had the good fortune in playing in many of them. Now it’s up to Mauro and his team-mates."
The Inter captain also said a few words: "It’s obviously a tricky time for us, especially in comparison with the first half of the season. As the boss always tells us, we’ll come through this if we stick together. All teams have their ups and downs over the course of a season. We’ve had a bit of a dip physically lately, but we’ll get our level of performance back soon. As captain, I need to do everything I can to set an example for my team-mates."
Versión Española 日本語版 Versi Bahasa Indonesia Versione Italiana
