Greek League Match Halted as Players Stage Sit-in Protest over Refugee Treatment

When the referee blew his whistle for the start of the Greek second division match between AE Larissa and Acharnaikos, everything seemed quite normal.

However, immediately after the kick-off, every player on the pitch sat down for two minutes in protest at the treatment of refugees by the European Union.

According to ABC.net, an announcement in the stadium was made explaining the players' actions:

"

The administration of AEL, the coaches and the players will observe two minutes of silence just after the start of the match in memory of the hundreds of children who continue to lose their lives every day in the Aegean due to the brutal indifference of the EU and Turkey.

The players of AEL will protest by sitting down for two minutes in an effort to drive the authorities to mobilise all those who seem to have been desensitised to the heinous crimes that are being perpetrated in the Aegean.

"

Fans appeared to agree with the statement the players were trying to make, applauding throughout before everyone stood up and got on with the game 120 seconds later.

For the record, AE Larissa claimed a 2-0 win.

[h/t: Talking Baws; SBNation]