|TOP|The international football association FIFA has reopened the chapel in the Olympic stadium in Berlin in response to widespread Christian protests and prayers. The surprising move came shortly before the Ecuador vs. Germany match, June 20, according to the Evangelical News Agency idea.

“We are delighted with the FIFA decision,” expressed Bernhard Felmberg, sports liaison officer of the Protestant Church in Berlin-Brandenburg.

FIFA has closed and sealed the chapels in Berlin and Gelsenkirchen, the only football venues with chapels in Germany, for security reasons and out of respect for adherents of non-Christian religions.

|AD|During the World Cup, the football association has domestic authority over the twelve venues. Felmberg is hopeful that the chapel in Gelsenkirchen will also be unlocked ahead of the Portugal vs. Mexico match, June 21.

The chapel in Berlin was dedicated only three weeks ago with the expressed purpose of serving as a place of prayer and meditation for footballers during the World Cup.

Devoted Christian players in the football squads also like to express their faith.

According to Lee Young-pyo of South Korea, the players meet on a regular basis to discuss their faith, although it was difficult for them to get to church during the intense training programme coach Dick Advocaat had put them through in Scotland and Germany.

Following the Korea Republic vs Togo match on 13 June, Lee Young-pyo and fellow Christian players knelt down to pray as they won with an unexpected 2:1 score.