Luxembourg FA using football to tackle discrimination among young people
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
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Football has long been described as a reflection of society. In Luxembourg, where the national teams are made up of players from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, that reflection is particularly visible. Now, the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) is using the sport not only to unite young people on the pitch but also to encourage conversations about discrimination, respect and belonging.
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Following the Luxembourg government's anti-discrimination action plan, the FLF has launched Stell Diskriminéierung Abseits (Put Discrimination Offside), a grassroots initiative designed to promote inclusivity among young footballers. Developed in partnership with the National Youth Service (SNJ), the project combines football exercises with interactive workshops, helping players recognise discrimination while reinforcing the values of fair play and mutual respect.
The programme kicked off in April 2026 after the government implemented its national action plan, following a study concluding that racism and discrimination remain widespread and systemic in Luxembourg. Rather than limiting its response to classrooms or lectures, the FLF chose the football pitch as its learning environment.
Education through football
"The SNJ approached us because they wanted to develop a project through football," explains Daniel Zirbes, the FLF's women's and youth national team coach and the association's grassroots programmes coordinator. "That made perfect sense because our national teams, with players from many different backgrounds, are a reflection of Luxembourgish society."
Before opening the initiative to clubs across the country, the association tested the concept during the summer of 2025. A pilot project brought together the boys' and girls' Under-15 national teams at the FLF's headquarters in Mondercange, where coaches and educators experimented with different formats. Rather than separating football from education, they deliberately combined the two.
"We created a mix of light football training and workshops," Zirbes says. "It is an interactive approach because it is difficult to address a subject like discrimination if everyone is simply sitting in a sterile room."
The result is a 90-minute session that mirrors regular training while introducing moments of reflection, moving into discussions guided by SNJ social educators. Participants are encouraged to identify discriminatory behaviour, understand its impact and consider how they can contribute to a more inclusive environment both on and off the pitch.
Exploring national identity
Identity is one of the recurring themes, with participants invited to reflect on who represents Luxembourg and what it means to belong.
For example, one discussion centres on the men's national team, many of whose players have immigrant family backgrounds and were born and raised in Luxembourg.
"Many clubs see it as a team-building activity before or after the season, while also raising awareness among their young players about discrimination."
The association hopes that by introducing these discussions at an early age, young players will carry those values into adulthood. The project therefore goes beyond simply tackling incidents of discrimination on football pitches, and instead has a broader ambition to help shape attitudes that extend into schools, workplaces and everyday life.
Positive response from football community in Luxembourg
Since becoming available to clubs in April 2026, the initiative has already attracted strong interest.
"So far, it has been a success," Zirbes says. "Many clubs see it as a team-building activity before or after the season, while also raising awareness among their young players about discrimination."
The workshops will run throughout the 2026/27 season, with clubs able to invite SNJ educators to deliver the sessions at their own facilities. Alternatively, a toolkit is available that allows grassroots clubs across Luxembourg to integrate the programme into their own schedules, making it more accessible.
The project reflects a growing recognition that football's educational role extends beyond developing technical skills. While winning matches remains important, grassroots football increasingly seeks to develop responsible citizens alongside talented players.
"It is important to talk about customs, respect and the fact that there is still a lot of discrimination among young people," one participant says in a video launched to promote the initiative.
By using football as a starting point for honest conversations, Put Discrimination Offside aims to ensure that the lessons learned during a 90-minute training session last far longer than the final whistle.