Football For Unity Festivals Address Discrimination during EURO 2020

June 11, 2021 

The UEFA Foundation for Children has teamed up with streetfootballworld, the European Football for Development Network and local grassroots football nonprofits on a series of festivals to address discrimination in all its forms during UEFA EURO 2020. The seven festivals are part of the organisation's ongoing Football for Unity project co-funded by the European Union (EU) and will focus on social inclusion and third-country nationals during the tournament which runs today through 11 July. 

In 2018, the EU was home to 22.3 million third-country nationals accounting for 4.4% of the total population, according to streetfootballworld’s site, which also notes that factors such as cultural differences, language barriers and social stigma can make it particularly challenging for these young people to integrate into their new societies. 

The potential of sport to address social issues is increasingly being recognised by the EU and football, in particular, has been identified as a powerful tool. The festivals will leverage the international platform of EURO 2020 with the events taking place in the host cities of Amsterdam, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Munich and Rome. Local organising groups are comprised of partners such as civil society organisations, public authorities, football industry stakeholders and social inclusion experts.

“Migration and asylum are major challenges for Europe,” said Aleksander Čeferin, UEFA president and Foundation chairman. “UEFA EURO 2020 is an ideal platform to show how football promotes social inclusion and multiculturalism. Football has the power to unite people and to promote difference as a strength.” 

The project supports a desire for members of host communities in Europe to engage on a deeper understanding of the diversity that exists across the continent. On the participant side, sports-based programming will address communication, conflict resolution, leadership and intercultural knowledge.   

In addition to the Football for Unity festivals, the project will engage young third-country nationals and young Europeans in a series of local football programmes, youth forums and integration activities. These initiatives offer the youngsters various opportunities to interact, learn from one another, acquire life skills, become agents of change and build a community. 

“Football has the incredible ability to bring people together, promote mutual understanding and share life lessons with young people for the benefit not only of these individuals but society as a whole. We are thrilled to be part of Football for Unity, which uses the power of the beautiful game to further social cohesion and drive constructive discourse on migration and inclusion in UEFA EURO host cities and communities,” commented Vladimir Borković, co-founder of streetfootballworld. 

The awareness-raising festivals are being held in collaboration with:

• FC Nordsjælland (Denmark)
• Oltalom Sports Association (Hungary)
• Johan Cruyff Foundation (Netherlands)
• KICKFAIR (Germany)
• Sports Against Racism Ireland (Ireland)
• Street Child United (UK)
• Liberi Nantes ASD (Italy)