Friend learns sign language so blind and deaf man can enjoy World Cup

At nine years old, Jose Richard Gallego lost his hearing and vision to disease, but the disease did not weaken his love of football.

Football fans Jose Richard Gallego and Cesar Daza. Source: CCTV

Three years ago, Colombian football fan Jose Richard Gallego met Cesar Daza, and the two men quickly discovered they shared a passion for the sport.

Daza learned sign language and came up with a set of hand gestures in order to communicate a football match, in real time, to Gallego.

"We've reached a common understanding. This means out of bounds. This refers to a corner kick. This means sideline judge. This sign means a penalty kick. If the ball is thrown-in, this is the signal. This gesture means someone got a red card or yellow card," Daza said of the gestures.

Daza learned sign language in order to communicate a football match to Gallego. Source: CCTV

When the Colombia-Poland Group H match in Kazan aired on TV, Daza translated the movements for Gallego.

His lightning fast hand movements mirrored the tense atmosphere and Gallego was able to follow the match almost in real time.

While Gallego couldn't see or hear his fellow fans, he could feel the excitement and joy in happening in the room around him.