UEFA-backed anti-racism week in October

One of the charities on UEFA’s portfolio is preparing for a Europe-wide week of action against racism and discrimination in football in mid-October.

United stand
The Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network says that activities between 17 and 28 October will involve national football associations, professional clubs, fan groups, community and migrant organisations, and schools – all of whom will be making a united stand against any form of discrimination.

Extended week
During the extended week, FARE will be offering community and migrant groups, as well as football supporters, a small contribution to produce anti-racist leaflets, fanzines, banners or fan choreographies.

UEFA support
The FARE network, launched in 1999, brings together local and national activities in its unstinting work to help combat racism and intolerance within football, and UEFA has offered its support to the organisation on various occasions.

April week
In April, an action week united clubs, players and fans from throughout this continent. For example, Norwegian players displayed red cards against racism in an on-field ceremony, and a CD called “Let’s Kick Racism Out Of Football” was issued in Poland.

Common effort
FARE works with 60 organisations through initiatives in 15 countries, in a broad common effort to fight racism and related attitudes at all levels of professional and amateur football – in the stadiums, on the pitch, in administration, in coaching and sport education, and also in the media.

Historical problems
“Each season in national and European football, racism and xenophobia occur on a weekly basis,” says FARE. “Abuse of players by other players, supporters chanting and/or singing racial abuse inside and outside stadia, and the presence of far-right organisations trying to use football to disseminate their message are ongoing historical problems.”