Matches against prejudice
Wednesday, July 2, 2003
Article summary
Tackling racism was the aim in a junior tournament held in Lithuania.
Article body
Fight against discrimination
The Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) organised the 18-team event on 21 June 2003, with mixed sides of boys and girls competing in three age groups - those born by 1986, 1988 and 1990. Ukmerge, with its tradition for promoting women's football, was an appropriate setting for an event which promoted the fight against sexual and racial discrimination.
'Unite Against Racism'
Part funded by a €32,000 grant made available to all national associations for this purpose by UEFA's Executive Committee in November, the tournament was covered by Lithuania's largest daily newspapers, and ended with all participants being awarded two T-shirts - one containing UEFA's motto 'Unite Against Racism' and the other bearing the LFF's slogan 'Our Nationality Is Football'.
Other event
Another event in UEFA's campaign was held in Moscow when the Russian national team beat a Premier-Liga All-Star XI.
