Home
It’s 2019 and we’re still having the same debate!
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/it%E2%80%99s-2019-and-we%E2%80%99re-still-having-same-debate
Share
 
The URL has been copied
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/it%E2%80%99s-2019-and-we%E2%80%99re-still-having-same-debate
Share
 
The URL has been copied
Attendees of the #EqualGame conference convened in London to discuss recent cases of discrimination and racial abuse in football, and ways to tackle the issue to move towards fair play.

SchweryCade was privileged to be invited to attend the #EqualGame conference last week in London, organised jointly by UEFA, the English Football Association and the Fare network.

Also in attendance were general secretaries and presidents from a large majority of UEFA member associations, NGOs and experts – many of them part of the Fare network – a host of current and former players, coaches, referees and others from the Game, as well as journalists and reporters. Among these were Greg Clarke (English FA Chairman) and Aleksander Čeferin (UEFA President), both of whom gave strong keynote speeches.

Shameful

It was Čeferin that set the scene in his opening speech, giving a blunt testimony to the scale of the problem: “I am ashamed that in 2019 we have to organise a conference to combat discrimination and intolerance in football. We must dare to change. I am ashamed that here in Europe not a weekend goes by without a discriminatory act taking place in a football stadium, at amateur level or professional level.

The starting point for all discussions was the acknowledgment that the issue originates in society, but that Football has a responsibility to address its manifestations in the Game thus contributing to the fight for equality and inclusion in general.

The conference had its highlights, among them a captivating production of Offside, by the Futures Theatre group; a keynote speech about what it means to be a woman in football by Honey Thalijeh; and an intro to sport and human Rights from Mary Harvey, CEO of the newly established Centre for Sport and Human Rights.

?>

Tags

Region
Europe
Sport
Football (Soccer)
Themes
Target Group
People with Disabilities
Girls and women
Displaced people

Related Articles

Beatrice Chebet

Let’s harness the power of sport to #KeepMoving towards a thriving and inclusive Africa

sportanddev Community
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/let%E2%80%99s-harness-power-sport-keepmoving-towards-thriving-and-inclusive-africa
 
The URL has been copied
Aatashala Conference

Aatashala Pan-India Sports for Development Conference: Unlocking potential through sport and play

Kailas Khanna K R
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/aatashala-pan-india-sports-development-conference-unlocking-potential-through-sport-and
 
The URL has been copied
CAF Grassroots Festival

Over 150 young girls introduced to football through the CAF Grassroots Festival

https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/over-150-young-girls-introduced-football-through-caf-grassroots-festival
 
The URL has been copied
illustrated collage of active people with disabilities

Women Win release toolkit for advancing disability inclusion in sport-based life skills programs

sportanddev Community
https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/women-win-release-toolkit-advancing-disability-inclusion-sport-based-life-skills
 
The URL has been copied