Final stand against racism

The campaign to eliminate racism from football will be given high exposure at Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final between Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

Showing support
Both team captains will wear an armband promoting the Unite against Racism campaign, showing their support for the unstinting efforts being made by UEFA and the football family to press home the message that racism and intolerance have no place in the game.

EURO campaign
The Unite Against Racism campaign will be one of the main social activities at the forthcoming UEFA EURO 2008™ tournament in Austria and Switzerland next month. The campaign will celebrate diversity through a number of activities organised before and during the final round from 7 to 29 June.

Many activities
The semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2008™ will be dedicated to this theme, and other activities will include street football tournaments, an awareness campaign and the inclusion of local ethnic minorities. UEFA is contributing €312,500 to this project. Martin Kallen, Euro 2008 SA chief operating officer, said: "We want to make sure that fans feel welcome as there is no room for violence and racism – inside the stadium or outside."

"Respect"
The "Respect" campaign, launched by UEFA President Michel Platini this spring, will feature prominently at the UEFA Champions League final and UEFA EURO 2008™, as well as at future UEFA competitions and events. The campaign is being featured prominently at a special stand at the UEFA Champions Festival in Moscow's Red Square.

Strengthening the fight
"Respect" aims at creating respect for the difference and diversity that enriches Europe. This means strengthening the fight against social ills such as racism, violence, xenophobia and homophobia.