FootbALL Awards 2025 honour recipients for their commitment to inclusivity, anti-discrimination and community-driven initiatives
Thursday, May 8, 2025
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Ukrainian Association of Football, English Premier League, Everton FC and Liverpool FC, and Carolina Morace win UEFA FootbALL Awards.
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UEFA is proud to announce that the Ukrainian Association of Football, the Premier League, Everton FC and Liverpool FC, and Carolina Morace were awarded the 2025 UEFA FootbALL Awards this afternoon at the UEFA RESPECT Forum in Zurich, Switzerland, for their outstanding contributions to football on and off the pitch.
One national association, one league, two clubs and one former player were selected for the awards in recognition of their exceptional efforts in promoting diversity, inclusion and accessibility in European football – values that lie at the heart of the FootbALL programme’s initiatives. Recipients were selected by UEFA’s Human Rights Steering Group consisting of Alessandro Costacurta, Paul Elliott, Ronan Evain, Darren Lewis, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Levan Kobiashvili, Mbo Mpenza, Nadia Nadim, Barbara Stefanelli, Bibiana Steinhaus and Patrick Vieira.
Ukrainian Association of Football
The Ukrainian Association of Football is being recognised for the amputee football initiative ‘League of the Mighty’. As the war in Ukraine continues, the number of amputees is expected to surpass 100,000. In response, the Ukrainian football community has launched a national amputee football initiative aimed at helping veterans adapt to life after the trauma. Training centres have opened nationwide, offering a space to play, recover and connect. The programme aims to involve at least 600 players and will conclude with a national championship this summer. The Ukrainian Football Association is also funding research into the positive impact of participating in adaptive sports on mental and physical health.
Premier League (England): Community Captain Programme
In January, the Premier League launched the Community Captain Programme to honour individuals making outstanding contributions to their communities through football. This initiative celebrates the league's investment in community and social projects, reinforcing its role as a culturally significant institution in Britain.
Everton FC and Liverpool FC: Joint condemnation of racist abuse
Earlier this year, Everton FC and Liverpool FC came together to strongly condemn the racist abuse directed at Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré following a Merseyside derby match. The clubs issued a joint statement denouncing the abuse and reaffirmed their united stance against all forms of discrimination. Working closely with local authorities, they took immediate steps to identify the perpetrators, underscoring their commitment to a zero-tolerance stance on racism.
Carolina Morace, Member of European Parliament and former player
Carolina is a former professional player and coach who became the first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of Italian Football in 2014. Elected to the European Parliament last year, she is a member of the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. In this role, she has been a vocal advocate for gender equality on company boards and LGBTQ+ rights around Europe. Carolina is also a member of the UEFA Football Board where she plays an active role in advancing the women’s game.
The awards were presented on the second day of the 2025 UEFA RESPECT Forum, which convenes key professionals, stakeholders and experts actively advancing social and environmental sustainability across European football.
Michele Uva, UEFA Director of Social & Environmental Sustainability
"The FootbALL Awards shine a light on organisations who use football as a force for good. We are proud to honour these exceptional winners, who remind us that the true impact of our game goes far beyond the pitch - it lies in its ability to unite, uplift, and create lasting change in our communities. Their commitment sets a powerful example for how football can drive meaningful change, both within the game and across society."
Launched in 2023, the FootbALL programme highlights the power of football to drive positive social change across European communities and advocates that the game is open to all to enjoy, play, learn and develop. The programme is composed of three pillars – the Campaign, the Platform, and the Activation – which tie together all of UEFA’s social sustainability initiatives, events and campaigns.
The inaugural winners of the FootbALL Awards in 2023 were the Royal Belgian Football Association, DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, Arsenal FC and Lilian Thuram.
More details and insights on UEFA’s sustainability work can be found in the latest UEFA RESPECT Report.
