Football People weeks - 1st week highlights

The first weekend of the Football People action weeks, which started last Thursday (9 October), saw several activities unite people across Europe and beyond in the fight against discrimination.

In Porto, Portugal an antiracist film festival MICAR was launched to the media. It will officially opened on 17 October and present movies addressing racism and discrimination until Sunday (the programme).

Portal Futebol Feminino, also Portugal, organised a juggling contest and other activities to promote women in the game. Also in Poland women joined in.

In Russia, a round table discussed the challenges ahead of the World Cup in 2018. In Belarus, Antikino are organising a movie screening followed by a discussion on discrimination in Belarus football and society.

Berlin saw its first Refugee and Sport congress, which sought to improve the cooperation between clubs and refugee camps to help them improve easy access to football for refugees and asylum seekers.

The Door Albania presented an exhibition and organised a tournament in Shkoder, Albania. About 140 people among them Roma and Egyptian communities and the organisation's football female team participated.

In Slovenia, the flash mob of Sportno Drustvo Partizan Skofja Loka took the streets of the thousand year-old city of Škofja Loka.

In Slovakia, Bratislavská liga v malom futbale organised an antiracism tournament (more) together with a Roma team.

Activities reached far beyond Europe’s borders. Kids in Vietnam have joined the Football People weeks and also the supporters group Brigada Azul Crema contra la Homofobia in Mexico.

Supporters
In Spain, supporters of Xerez Deportivo mounted an antiracist choreography. The Austrian Faninitative Innsbruck invited homeless people to attend a match of their team.

Over the following days many more fan groups will organise activities, presentations, tournaments, among other activities.

Fans of Borussia Dortmund are planning a series of events. Many of the activities will focus on providing active support for refugees and asylum seekers, such as the discussion organised by fans of Fortuna Düsseldorf or the fundraiser event organised by FreundInnen der Friedhofstribüne.

QFF together with a number of their members fan clubs will display banners against homophobia and sexism during their clubs’ next Bundesliga matches.

In Greece, Athens, the first “Racism and football” conference will being held by Foul with the support of the Superleague and the Greek FA.

#IAM #FOOTBALLPEOPLE
During the first days of the campaign, support from professional clubs, national FAs and Leagues has multiplied - Machester City, Olympiacos FC, Romanian FA, French Ligue 1 + 2 (video “We are proud of our difference”), Switzerland.

High profile players, including Didier Drogba, André Schürrle, Mbo Mpenza, Eric Abidal, Andrea Pirlo, Casey Stoney, Yaya, Touré, are backing the Action Weeks through the photo campaign #IAM #FOOTBALLPEOPLE.