Mondiali Antirazzisti promotes equal rights

The FIFA World Cup in South Africa reached its climax last weekend – together with an event supported by UEFA and its partner, the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network.

The 14th edition of the Mondiali Antirazzisti (Anti-Racist World Cup) took place in the Italian town of Casalecchio, near Bologna. The five-day festival of football gathered 204 teams from 34 different countries, and culminated in the final on Sunday.

This year, the Mondiali was dedicated to the theme of equal rights. The annual event is organised by the FARE partner organisation Progetto Ultrà – UISP Emilia Romagna – in collaboration with local and regional municipal bodies. UEFA's core partner FARE is a network of non-governmental organisations that campaign against any form of racism or discrimination in and around European football.

The non-competitive tournament brought together teams with diverse backgrounds. The majority comprised anti-racism groups, followed by migrant and ethnic minority teams and fan teams. Most of the sides were mixed, and the emphasis was placed on fair play – with no referees and only a pitch official responsible for timekeeping and the score. Saturday afternoon was reserved for the women's football tournament.

The Mondiali Antirazzisti is not only about sport, but also about music and fun. Bands from, among other countries, Italy, Germany and Spain performed each night on a big open-air stage. For further information in English, German and Italian, visit mondialiantirazzisti.org

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