If one moment symbolised everything that was wrong with the way European countries treated refugees fleeing war in Syria, this was it.
The moment a father and his young son were tripped up by a heartless Hungarian camerawoman.
Millions of people around the world were shocked by the footage which showed Syrian football coach Osama Abdul Mohsen tumbling into the dirt while shielding his young son Zaid at the Serbia-Hungary border.
But what happened next shows everything that is right with other European nations’ response to the human crisis. And yet again it’s football that’s leading the way.
Osama, who coached with Syrian Premier League football team al-Fotuwa SC, was offered a coaching role at a Spanish football academy.
Fellow coaches at a football school in Getafe tracked him down and have offered him a new job and accommodation.
He is travelling from Germany to Madrid to start his new life.
Miguel Ángel Galán, president of the CANAFE football school, said they wanted to help out a fellow coach.
Getafe mayor Sara Hernández told Spanish media that Osama would also be given the chance to work with the city’s football club, Getafe FC.
“We will work with Getafe FC so that the father can coach there, seeing as he has experience in that area,” she said.
“This is a step to show the solidarity of the city of Getafe in response to this human drama.”
Well done football.
