Int’l Police Football Tournament kicks off in Istanbul

By Hilmi Sever

ISTANBUL (AA) - Groups for the International Police Football Tournament, which will be held in Istanbul, are unveiled on Monday.

Turkey will face Azerbaijan, Italy and Qatar at the group stages.

Top two teams from each group will advance to the next round.

The final will be played on Saturday, April 6 at 4.30 p.m. local time [1330 GMT] at Galatasaray’s Turk Telekom Stadium.

During the tournament, which will be held as part of the 174th anniversary of the foundation of Turkish Police Department, foreign teams will have an opportunity to see the historical and touristic places of Istanbul.

"Sports activities are the common point that brings people together -- regardless of religion, language, race and gender -- anywhere in the world," Atalay Bahar, deputy police chief of Istanbul, said at the opening ceremony.

Bahar said that the tournament will strengthen Turkey’s friendship with the other seven countries.

"The world needs the unifying power of sports," he added.

Here are the groups:

Group A: Azerbaijan, Italy, Turkey, Qatar

Group B: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia, Spain

*Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez