UEFA launches the FootbALL programme: “Diversity and inclusion are important values ​​in European football” – Calcio

ISTANBUL – The shirts of Turkish legends, engaged in the Marmara Sea Village in the tournament Ultimate Champions with legends Uefabore the logo of Nyon’s campaign for inclusion, which was officially launched in Istanbul by the Italian Michele Grape, UEFA director of the Sustainability sector. It’s not just a matter of kicking racism and any other form of intolerance, but precisely the launch of a series of initiatives for inclusion and equal opportunities in European football. The goal is to “promote positive social change, starting from three pillars – the Campaign, the Platform and the Activation – which unite all UEFA’s social sustainability initiatives, events and campaigns”.

In particular, this initiative is based on UEFA’s constant commitment to exploiting football as a catalyst: “We want to promote positive change in society, with a simple but significant message: everyone is welcome in football”. Footb ALL it will therefore stimulate new educational actions and amplify existing ones, such as the Outraged educational programme, further informing the public about the efforts made by UEFA by its affiliated organizations and football partners towards inclusion and equality in European football. It is a strategy to activate and accelerate collective action in support of social and environmental sustainability in the context of European football. The Footb ALL launch video campaign tells the stories of members of the football community, all from different backgrounds and all with different roles in football: from referee to gardener, from fan to coach. It aims to challenge the viewer’s prejudices and assumptions about the protagonists and show that despite their differences and unique qualities, they all belong in football.

One such example in the video is the story of Linda Repettiwho works as a gardener at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa: “People are surprised when I say I work as a gardener because there aren’t many women who do this job in football. I’ve always fought and worked hard for my role.”

The Champions League final is the occasion for the launch, with the logo clearly visible both on the perimeter scoreboards, on the signage and on the stadium’s maxi screen, and finally on the UEFA social media channels, before, during and after the match. Among the testimonials, the Frenchman stands out Patrick Vieiraadvocate of mutual respect in football: “Football is unique, because it is able to transcend the boundaries of nationality, ethnicity, gender and religion. From an early age, children learn to play together and speak a common football language. We must cherish and protect diversity in football, so everyone can feel like a respected part of the community.”

Later this month, the inaugural Footb ALL awards will be presented to the national association, club, player and league that have made an outstanding contribution to inclusion, equality and diversity projects in football. In the 2023-24 season and beyond, the Footb ALL program will be further implemented in UEFA competitions and at national level in close cooperation with UEFA member associations.