Football people weeks – a united front

As in previous years a Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) campaign called ‘Football People’, is being organised by the Malta Football Association. The Euro qualifying matches Malta played against Norway and Italy heralded the events on the 9th and 13th October. Next will be two Premier League matches, Pieta – Balzan and Valletta – Birkirkara to be played this Sunday 19th October. Players and officials will line-up wearing anti-discrimination T-Shirts while an announcement related to this theme will be made prior to both matches. Social media will also raise this awareness in an online campaign and in the printed media. The ‘Football People’ event is meant to increase public awareness of discrimination in football, create a united front by bringing together all the stakeholders in the game and develop new ideas and new practices that challenge exclusion. These are common stands in Europe which UEFA also advocates in its efforts to eradicate racism and any form of discrimination while marking the positive contribution football is making towards this end.