Summit leaders champion team game

By Bethany Bell
BBC News, Vienna

European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso (C) cries foul Game highlights

European leaders and the president of Peru have kicked off an EU summit with Latin American countries with a charity football match in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

The two teams were led by the head of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.

It was a fast moving game - a change from the normal pace of EU affairs.

The prime ministers of Turkey, Slovenia, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria and Austria, along with the Peruvian president and assorted EU commissioners, swapped their grey suits for football gear.

Turkish pitch

Mr Schuessel scored the first goal. His team later trailed Mr Barroso's 7-3 but in the final minutes there was a swift comeback and the two sides drew 7-7.

The charity match raised 100,000 euros for street children

The match was eventually settled by a penalty shootout, with Mr Schuessel's team claiming victory.

Mr Schuessel's team mate, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a former football professional, had a strong game, along with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo.

They all scored goals - much to the delight of the fans.

The politicians were also joined by Turkish soccer star Fatih Terim, former Romanian tennis legend Ilie Nastase and Austrian fencer Esmail Pashapour.

Many in the audience sported Austrian flags, but there was also a large Turkish contingent, who cheered loudly in support of Mr Erdogan.

Turkey is currently making a pitch for EU membership - but a large majority of Austrians oppose the move.

The charity match raised 100,000 euros ($128,000; £68,000) for street children in Romania and Moldova.

As he stood catching his breath at the end, Mr Schuessel told the BBC the game had been great fun.

"Football is a team game like real politics, especially European Union affairs," he said.

"And I think it was a good symbol that citizens can see that politicians don't only sit in conference halls with ties and dark suits, but also fight and sweat and have fun playing football."