United against the racists
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Article summary
The anti-racism conference in Barcelona will be a show of strength against discrimination.
Article body
Camp Nou date
The 2nd Conference Against Racism in European Football at Camp Nou stadium on 1 February is being organised by UEFA in co-operation with the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), in conjunction with FC Barcelona. Star players, football personalities, Spanish and European politicians and delegates from UEFA's 52 member associations are being invited to the event, which follows a successful conference held at Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC in London, in spring 2003.
Speakers invited
UEFA said on Tuesday that those invited to address the conference include UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson; Daniella Conti (FARE); former Chelsea FC defender Paul Elliott, who is a special adviser to the UK Commission for Racial Equality; representatives from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; the European Commission; the European Parliament; the Spanish government and the Generalitat de Catalunya; Charlie Brooks from the Stand Up Speak Up campaign; and former Ghanaian international Anthony Baffoe. The full conference agenda and main speakers will be published in full closer to the event.
No place in society
In his welcome notes to the conference, UEFA President Lennart Johansson says: "Racism is unquestionably one of the most abject forms of disrespect towards fellow human beings. It has no place in our society and even less so in team sports like football, where all members of the team are equally important when it comes to achieving the desired result."
FARE's assistance
"UEFA has decided to do everything within its power to rid football of this scourge and appreciates the assistance of similarly minded organisations such as FARE, with which it has already worked for several years."
Important opportunity
"The conference is an important opportunity for us all to map out the quickest route to a game free of racism and discrimination," added FARE spokesman Piara Powar, director of the UK Kick It Out anti-racism organisation.
Tougher sanctions
"We are particularly pleased with our relationship with UEFA, which has taken on the role of a proactive governing body," Powar continued. "But at national level, some administrators in the game are in denial, or do not understand what action to take. One of our aims is to bridge this gap in understanding."
