Be part of the #FootballPeople action weeks

The #FootballPeople action weeks return between 11 and 25 October this year and the Fare network, which organises the annual event, is calling on Europe’s national associations and clubs to get involved and help drive social change.

The #FootballPeople action weeks are a wide-reaching campaign to tackle discrimination and celebrate diversity in football. The weeks unite professional football clubs and associations, grassroots groups, supporters, NGOs and communities affected by exclusion across Europe with the goal of eradicating discrimination. More than 100,000 people took part in 2,000 events in over 60 countries in 2017.

The weeks are supported by UEFA, more than 400 professional clubs and more than 35 national associations, many professional leagues and players’ unions.

Join in the action
Clubs and associations can join in the action and celebrate football as a game for all by organising events and activities or associating existing events with the campaign. There are so many ways to support and champion diversity in football.

All matches in the UEFA Europa League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women’s Champions League and UEFA Nations League played between 11 and 25 October will feature some reference to the #FootballPeople action weeks, reaching fans directly in the stadiums and millions more on television and online.

Organising activities as part of the action weeks is simple and the options are limitless: holding workshops for fans, coaches and players; organising on-pitch activities at a match; inviting children from different backgrounds to be mascots; asking players to line up in campaign T-shirts; producing a video with a message promoting diversity; or holding coaching sessions in the community.

The Fare network’s executive director, Piara Powar, says: “The Football People weeks are an important window for European football to come together to challenge exclusion and discrimination and support inclusion and diversity through sport.

“Anybody who watches, plays or is leading the sport has the opportunity to support the movement by organising and taking part. Last year we reached over 100,000 active participants. Together we make it stronger again by showing a united message.”

For more information about the #FootballPeople action weeks and to join in and celebrate a world of football where everybody is welcome everywhere, go to http://farenet.org/ or contact info@farenet.org.

This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct 180