World united in Belfast
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Article summary
The Irish Football Association has been working with UEFA on its Football For All project.
Article body
Anti-racism support
The Irish Football Association (IFA) programme has involved working to provide anti-racism training support for football clubs and community groups, using the game to celebrate diversity. UEFA has lent significant financial aid to the Football for All campaign focusing on issues such as sectarianism, racism and the participation of women and people with special needs in football.
Football matches
This project has not only included work off the field, but also football matches to highlight the campaign. In one example, the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council soccer team lost 4-1 in a recent friendly against the IFA's Football For All World United side in Belfast. Good relations was the real winner in this game, which was played to highlight the IFA's anti-racism work, which also gets support from the European Union's Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
Moket hat-trick
Thomas Moket from the Ivory Coast scored a stunning hat-trick for World United and Ridvan Nehani from Albania claimed the fourth late on. IFA community relations officer Michael Boyd grabbed a consolation penalty, guesting alongside former Northern Irish international Ian Stewart for the Community Relations Council XI. Mal Donaghy, Northern Ireland's most-capped outfield player, captained World United.
Making friends
Hat-trick hero Moket commented: "The IFA, UEFA and Northern Ireland Community Relations Council have been fantastic in their support of World United. Most of our team are relatively new to Northern Ireland and through the sport we are able to come together and make new friends. The majority of the people I know in Northern Ireland are through the IFA's World United team."
Enjoying football
Defender Toraj Amiravagi from Iran added: "Through World United I have been able to contribute to the IFA's Football For All project, taking part in anti-racism training, and I have also been able to enjoy the sport of football. Our team has players from over ten different nationalities who come together through the universal love of football. The IFA and their Community Relations department deserve great credit for this."
