BUENOS AIRES, November 17 (RIA Novosti) - Catholic priests from Venezuela and Colombia have played a game of football in support of peace and friendship between the two neighbors, whose relations have seriously deteriorated in the past few months.

The match, which was held in the Colombian city of Cucuta on Monday, ended in a 2-2 draw. Fans engaged in religious chanting in support of the teams.

Colombian radio Caracol quoted Jaime Prieto Amaya, the bishop of Cacuta, as saying "the game demonstrated that nothing could cause war between the peoples that have so much in common."

The row between the two Latin American countries started in August shortly after Colombia and the United States announced plans to deploy some 800 U.S. troops and 600 civilian contractors at seven Colombian military bases.

Although Washington and Bogota have insisted that the military bases agreement, which was finally signed in October, concerns "practical aid" in measures against drug trafficking and domestic insurgents in Colombia, Venezuela continues to see the deal as a threat to its national security

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez have criticized Colombia for becoming "Washington's lackey" and even called on his country to prepare for a possible war that "could last for 100 years and spread over the entire American continent."