Football and civil society organisations led by anti-discrimination group INADI, gathered last Saturday(21 June), in Resistencia, in the Northeastern region of Chaco, Argentina, to look at sexism and discriminatory behaviour in football stadiums.

The “Fútbol sin Discriminación” (Football without Discrimination) gathering included the region’s first female referees, Julia Fortini and Soledad Ríos, and fan groups of the local clubs Club Atlético Sarmiento and Chaco For Ever, who talked about their experiences at matches.

During the meeting, held at the Media Museum Raúl D. Berneri, Tatiana Hircschhorn, the co-ordinator of Argentinian National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI) anti-discrimination observatory, stressed the observatory’s work with supporters, referees, clubs, players and media in raising awareness of discriminatory behaviour.

Earlier in June, the group organised a workshop for the Argentinian public-owed television network Televisión Pública, to enlighten its journalists and reporters on anti-discriminatory reporting practices ahead of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Preventing and monitoring incidents
Both events have been organised as part of INADI’s annual campaign including guidance for journalists when reporting football matches.

A series of anti-discrimination and awareness-raising initiatives were also developed throughout the season in stadiums across the country, including in the Super classico fixture, played between the Buenos Aires rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors.

INADI’s work in football is lead by its observatory against discrimination, which helps to prevent and analyse improper behavior in stadiums, while promoting respect and cultural diversity.

Argentinian fans in the World Cup
In March 2014, the Brazilian government called on its Argentinian counterpart to help monitor the ultra group Barra Bravas. The intention was to prevent incidents of violence during the World Cup, in the light of events during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Although clashes between Argentina and Brazil fans have been reported in Belo Horizonte, in the Brazilian southeastern region of Minas Gerais, the Argentinian fans have generally been the life and soul of the party.