Multicultural football festival promotes diversity

More than 200 players from 23 teams across Scotland descended upon Toryglen as the Scottish FA Multicultural Football Festival took centre stage.

The event, founded in 2013 in partnership with BEMIS Scotland thanks to support from the Scottish government’s Cashback for Communities initiative, has grown year on year, with clubs from as far afield as Inverness travelling to Glasgow to take part.

Players from the age of eight to senior level were invited to take part in the event, which was open to clubs and players from all ethnic backgrounds and was keenly contested by all involved.

Well Foundation emerged victorious in the adult section after edging out United Glasgow, with SAPC Community Sports Hub claiming the honours in the youth section to deny the Bellshill outfit a brace of titles.

David McArdle, para-football and equality lead for the Scottish FA, was delighted with the impact of the festival, with plans already afoot for 2019.

McArdle said: “The festival is a fantastic visual representation of the diversity of Scottish culture, and the opportunity to bring people from so many diverse backgrounds together is one the Scottish FA is proud to be part of. The event was played with such high spirits and friendship. We are already working with our partner, BEMIS Scotland, to ensure the 2019 edition can be even bigger and further promote Scotland’s diverse communities.”

 This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct 182