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Berlin: A team of Christian priests thrashed a group of imams 12-1 to win Germany's first football cup between religious leaders yesterday, but it was all hugs and smiles after the match to promote tolerance. "We have tried for such a long time to strengthen the contact between the three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam," said Imam Taha, the Muslim squad captain. "I think we can say we have achieved that today." Around 100 spectators cheered and waved banners during the seven-a-side match, played under the eagle eyes of two Jewish linesmen one month before the World Cup kicks off in Germany. There were plenty of goals, unholy swearing and a jersey swap after the match. "That was a pretty tough game," said Roland Herpich, a Protestant pastor in Berlin-Wilmersdorf and captain of the Christian team.
"They were really strong on the ball, but when it came to running we were better, so the cup is ours for now at least," he said, clutching the golden trophy in his hands. Both teams agreed to make the match an annual event. Around 3 per cent of Germany's 82 million-strong population is Muslim, while the Jewish community accounts for 0.1 per cent. Like other European nations, Germany is having a heated debate about how to integrate immigrants and how tolerant its society should be of other religions. Rabbi Walter Rothschild said at regular inter-faith events, "everyone ends up just pussyfooting around, trying to avoid politics and drinking cups of tea. Now this is very different, very refreshing."
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