Bucharest hosted the first-ever European amputee soccer Conference League this week, providing a new international platform for amputee players from countries without domestic leagues. The event ran from Thursday to Friday, culminating in Maccabi Haifa FC of Israel defeating Scotland’s Ayr United 4-0 to claim the inaugural title.
The win held deep personal significance for Ben Binyamin of Maccabi Haifa. In 2023, he lost his right leg during a Hamas attack at the Tribe of Nova music festival and feared he would never play soccer again. “I am very happy that we won this tournament, we won without conceding a single goal,” Binyamin told The Associated Press. “Football itself for us is our physiotherapy, our life, and our second family. It helps us in life. It gives us strength.”
The competition featured four teams: Romania’s FCSB, Maccabi Haifa FC from Israel, Ayr United of Scotland, and Panathinaikos AC PwD from Greece. All matches were played in Bucharest under the banner of the European Amputee Football Federation (EAFF), which launched the Conference League as a way to create international opportunities for clubs in countries where amputee football leagues are still developing.
The EAFF described the new league as “a historic milestone” and “another important step in the development of European amputee football” on its website. The format follows the European club model familiar to able-bodied soccer fans, creating a tiered system that complements the existing Nations League, Champions League, and Europa League organized by EAFF.
Amputee soccer is contested seven-a-side on fields measuring 60 meters by 40 meters. Players have one leg and use crutches, while goalkeepers have both legs but are missing a hand or arm. The EAFF, established in 2015, aims to expand access and increase visibility for amputee soccer across Europe. The World Amputee Football Federation, founded in 2002, holds a World Cup every four years.
Iain Matthew, manager of Scotland’s Ayr United, acknowledged the challenge of the 0-4 final defeat but praised the value of the competition. “The competition is great for smaller nations … to get European football experience,” he said. “I think we could have played better, we could have defended better, but you’ve got to praise your players for what they’ve done over the week.”
The EAFF also runs initiatives like women’s and junior camps, aiming to build the sport’s reach beyond just men’s teams. Organizers hope the new league will draw more spectators to amputee soccer and help clubs establish international connections.
The first Conference League in Bucharest ended with Maccabi Haifa’s clean sheet and title, setting a precedent for future tournaments under the EAFF’s growing structure.
According to Yahoo Sports.
