European supporters award – candidates wanted

Candidates are being sought for the 2010 UEFA-backed European Football Supporters Award – a prize that rewards fans who behave in an exemplary manner and contribute a positive atmosphere in football stadiums.

Created in 2005, the award is open to all European football groups, and seeks to promote fraternisation between opposing supporters and respect towards opponents and the referee – combating displays of racism and xenophobia, and condemning all physical and verbal violence.

The objective is to change mentalities and encourage a festival feeling in stadiums through positive action. Awards over the last five years have gone to groups who have shown tolerance and hospitality towards visiting fans, worked on educating young supporters to act in accordance with football's true values, and helped handicapped fans to have better facilities to watch matches.

Previous winners are: Peña Multicolor (Spain), The Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs (Northern Ireland), Genoa Club for Children (Italy), National Association for Disabled Supporters (United Kingdom) and Média-Pitchounes de Toulouse (France). In 2006, special tribute was paid to the remarkable conduct of German fans at that year's FIFA World Cup.

The organisers have launched an appeal for candidates for the 2010 award. Candidates must be submitted by 31 October to the email address: info@supportersaward.com or by post to: European Football Supporters Award, 5 avenue du Col Vert, B-1170 Brussels, Belgium.

For more details, please click here. As in the past, the prize – which will be presented to the winners in November – is €6,000.