NEVER AGAIN wins European Football Supporters Award

The Polish association NEVER AGAIN – a tireless campaigner against racism and xenophobia – has won the 2010 UEFA-backed European Football Supporters Award (EFSA).

NEVER AGAIN has a mission to promote multicultural understanding and contribute to the development of a democratic civil society in Poland. The organisation is particularly concerned with the problem of education against racial and ethnic prejudice among the young.

The European Football Supporters Award is the European project that recognises groups of supporters or associations that show a positive attitude in sport, especially football. The award is given annually, with the 2010 jury consisting of representatives of UEFA, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, European Sports Magazines, the City of Brussels and the association Sport and Citizenship.

A total of 14 excellent candidates were considered for the award, with the organisers delighted those considered came from throughout Europe – Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Wales

NEVER AGAIN is busy with the East European Development Project which is being organised by the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network – UEFA's long-standing partner in the fight to eliminate racism, intolerance and discrimination from football. UEFA is helping to fund the three-year project, as part of a wide range of educational projects within the framework of the UEFA EURO 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

The principal initiative of this project, funded the UEFA, is the control centre for all actions against racism in Eastern Europe, which was launched last November with a specific mission to control, research and document specific cases of racism in the region ahead of UEFA EURO 2012.

NEVER AGAIN also organises the Ethno League – a competition has involved 12 multicultural teams from the Polish capital Warsaw and aims to fully integrate foreign residents. Cultural events have also been organised in parallel to Ethno League games, in conjunction with supporters, footballers, journalists and refugees. An exhibition, LET'S KICK RACISM OUT OF FOOTBALL, was also put together to showcase the positive values that are being nurtured within Polish football.

Previous winners of the European Football Supporters Award
2005 La Peña Multicolor (Spain)
2006 Amalgamation of Ireland Supporters Clubs (Northern Ireland)
2007 Genoa Club for Children (Italy)
2008 National Association for Disabled Supporters (United Kingdom)
2009 Association Média-Pitchounes (France)

In addition, a special prize was awarded to the German supporters in 2006 for their excellent behaviour during the FIFA World Cup.