SCO anniversary football tournament opens at Russian embassy in Beijing

A football tournament marking the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s 25th anniversary opened at the Russian embassy in Beijing on October 10.

The two-day SCO Cup brings together teams from Russia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, India and China, as well as a combined SCO team. Iran and Uzbekistan drew in the opening game despite a red card for the Iranian goalkeeper.

Russia was scheduled to face India, China and the combined SCO team on the opening day. Matches consist of two 10-minute halves, with teams changing ends without a break. The semifinals and final are due on October 11.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Russian embassy minister-counsellor Lenar Salimullin said sporting cooperation is an important part of the organisation’s humanitarian agenda alongside politics, economics and security. He described the second edition of the tournament as a developing tradition.