UEFA launches #EqualGame adverts starring Hegerberg, Messi, Pogba, Ronaldo and amateur players

Global icons are on board to promote inclusion, diversity and accessibility.

Some of football’s biggest stars joined forces with amateur players from around Europe in the advertisements for #EqualGame, UEFA’s new RESPECT social responsibility campaign, which positively promotes inclusion, diversity and accessibility in football.

Ada Hegerberg, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo feature together in two new videos, with an extended version premiering on Monday 11 September and a TV spot making its first appearance on 12 September for Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League matches.

The extended #EqualGame film is available to view now on the campaign’s dedicated website and on UEFA’s social media platforms. The TV-spot will be broadcast throughout the 2017/18 European club football season across all major UEFA competitions.

The new #EqualGame campaign films advocate UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin’s belief that European football’s governing body should be a social fair play organisation, which means a zero-tolerance stance on racism, sexism, homophobia or any form of discrimination:

It is vitally important that UEFA makes football accessible for everyone and, through the power of sport, becomes a global leader to fight for social equality.

“The new #EqualGame initiative aims to help to bring the football community closer together and ensure that values such as inclusion, gender equality and the fight against discrimination continue to be at the forefront of UEFA’s vision and beliefs.”

Paul Pogba, the Manchester United FC and France midfielder, has been one of the most vocal supporters of #EqualGame and he explained he is delighted to have the opportunity to help people become aware of all the possibilities to enjoy football:

“I am really honoured because it’s something that I can and want to do – to show the world that we’re all equal and we just play football because we love it. I think UEFA’s #EqualGame campaign is something that will help football in the whole world – it will send a message to everyone that we are all the same on the pitch wherever you come from. As players and fans, we all share the same love for football on the pitch. I hope fans will get inspired and spread the message.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, the Real Madrid CF and Portugal forward, says he is supporting #EqualGame because of his belief that football can be a force for good:

I am grateful for everything football has given to me and my family, and this is why I want to give back to society as often as I can. I see it as my responsibility, as a person and a footballer, to try to bring happiness to as many people as I can, on and off the pitch.

“I truly feel that football can be a force for good in people’s lives, no matter who they are, where they’re from or what their ability is. This is why I decided to support UEFA’s #EqualGame campaign, because it promotes that football is for everyone.”