Northern Ireland stands firm

By Mark Chaplin

UEFA's national associations are making their own significant contributions to the movement to eliminate racism, discrimination and intolerance from football - with the Irish Football Association (IFA) in Northern Ireland a fine example of the work being undertaken.

EU support
The IFA have had a full-time community relations officer (currently Michael Boyd) since December 1998 with support from the European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, Northern Ireland Community Relations Council and Sports Council Northern Ireland.

Raising awareness
The IFA first incorporated anti-racism training for its staff in 2001. In April 2004, the IFA held an anti-racism month with support from UEFA and Belfast City Council, and recent activities involved a series of awareness-raising events, an anti-racism training night for fans and IFA staff at the IFA delivered by the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities, and a wide-scale advertising campaign entitled "Say No To Racism".

Football for All
The IFA's Football For All Project has worked to provide anti-racism training support for football clubs and community groups, using football to celebrate diversity. UEFA has given significant financial backing 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.

Help for Chinese
The IFA has actively supported the Chinese Football Association Northern Ireland and World United teams in recent years, providing community relations training, free kits and free coaching. Last month, the Chinese Football Association Northern Ireland football team beat their Republic of Ireland counterparts 3-1 in Castlereagh to win the IFA's inaugural Football For All Asia Cup.

Sport's potential
"With the support of UEFA, we are able to have the inaugural Football For All Asia Cup," said Boyd. "The Asia Cup reminds us of the potential sport has to promote respect, celebrate diversity and contribute positively to the community."

Training DVD
With support from UEFA, the Community Relations Council and Belfast City Council, the IFA's Football For All Project has produced an anti-racism training DVD which it uses in coach education. The IFA is currently working on a supporting guidebook to help clubs and community groups use best practice in using sport to tackle racism and sectarianism.

Equality training
This week, the IFA organised innovative equality training for Irish League football safety officers and chief stewards. Boyd, who organised the training is keen for this to be another step in the football community working together to attract more families back to watch international and Irish League football.

Free of intolerance
Within this part of Europe, as in other countries, unstinting and vital work is being undertaken. "We all have a responsibility to ensure there is a fun, safe and family orientated atmosphere associated with international and Irish League football, free from sectarianism, racism or violence," said Boyd.

'Crucial role'
"This training is designed to be the first step in a process which will provide community relations support to the safety officers and chief stewards who play such a crucial role in making this happen."