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Vatican cancels football match with Vienna over anti-abortion protests
CNNThe Vatican canceled a friendly football match between its new women's team and a club in Vienna, after a number of Austrian players protested against the Catholic Church's stance on abortion.
The match, which was scheduled to take place Saturday at the Mariahilf football club in the Austrian capital, was called off after several Austrians lifted up their shirts to reveal pro-choice messages painted on their stomachs and backs while the countries' anthems were playing before kick-off.
One player wrote the slogan "my body my rules" on her back, according to images circulating on social media.
Vatican News, the official news agency of the Vatican City, said that the match turned into a "protest against the Church." The tie was intended to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the club's founding.
The match, which was scheduled to take place Saturday at the Mariahilf football club in the Austrian capital, was called off after several Austrians lifted up their shirts to reveal pro-choice messages painted on their stomachs and backs while the countries' anthems were playing before kick-off.
One player wrote the slogan "my body my rules" on her back, according to images circulating on social media.
Vatican News, the official news agency of the Vatican City, said that the match turned into a "protest against the Church." The tie was intended to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the club's founding.
The Vatican has a Woman’s team?