European football backs diversity, inclusion and accessibility
Friday, October 20, 2017
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European clubs and their players have joined forces with UEFA and the Fare network to promote diversity, inclusion and accessibility in football, and support the campaign to rid the game of discrimination.
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European football has united at its highest club levels in an impressive show of support for inclusion, diversity and accessibility in the game.
At matches in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Women’s Champions League, clubs and their stars confirmed their backing for the comprehensive campaign to rid football of discrimination and exclusion.
The activities on this high-profile European football platform were part of the Fare network’s Football People action weeks, which have taken place across the continent since the beginning of October
Fans at stadiums throughout Europe watched videos played on giant screens. Announcements were made over stadium loudspeakers, and child mascots wearing #EqualGame t-shirts put across the clear message that discrimination has no place in football.
Teams lined up before matches with their opponents and the referees, and #EqualGame hashtags were also prominent as group photos were taken. A Football People editorial appeared in all match programmes.
European clubs made full use of their own communication and social media channels to emphasise their total support for the Fare Football People action weeks – described by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin as “football’s largest movement for social change in Europe.”
The main aim of the Football People action weeks is to tackle discrimination in football, as well as developing new ideas and practices which can challenge exclusion. A wide range of activities have taken place in over 50 countries worldwide.
UEFA’s close and long-standing partnership with Fare began in 2001. The Football People action weeks align perfectly with the objectives of the new UEFA #EqualGame campaign, which seeks to promote inclusion, diversity and accessibility to football for everyone. Several top stars in Europe’s club competitions are lending their support to this campaign.
#EqualGame has evolved out of the previous UEFA RESPECT campaign, ‘No to Racism.’ UEFA is still fully committed to the fight against racism, and has now expanded its campaigning activities to cover all aspects of inclusion, such as ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation and religious beliefs.