News in 2006
01st November 2006
Action Week ends on high
The seventh annual Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) Action Week against racism and discrimination has ended with a second wave of major events across the continent.
PSV example
Leading Dutch club PSV Eindhoven organised an anti-racism day at their home match against Sparta Rotterdam last Tuesday - the fourth time PSV has joined the FARE Action Week. Captain Phillip Cocu read a letter with an anti-racism message and the teams of PSV and Sparta posed for a photo, showing a banner against racism.
English support
In England at the weekend, Arsenal FC fans raised cards reading Arsenal for Everyone in the club's colours to support the campaign organised by FARE partner Kick It Out. Also on Saturday, Sheffield United FC and FARE partner FURD (Football Unites, Racism Divides) created a fan choreography spelling out the message Football Unites at the match against Chelsea FC.
Hannover help
The women's team from German Bundesliga club Hannover 96 organised an action day. Brochures and badges with the topics were distributed. On the cover of the brochure, Hannover players were pictured with a FARE banner. The brochure also contained information about FARE and the network, as well as interviews with players concerning the topics racism, sexism and xenophobia within football.
Backing in Berne
Together against Racism, a fan club from Swiss club BSC Young Boys, produced a 50-metre long banner for the match against FC Zurich. The match-day programme featured an article on the FARE Action Week and an anti-racism spot was shown on the stadium video screen.
Dedicated
The FARE Action Week saw more than 1,000 single activities in 37 European countries. A record of 14 European top leagues dedicated their league matches to the fight against racism, including Austria, Germany, England, Scotland, Belgium, Cyprus, Macedonia, Malta, Slovenia, Romania and Norway. UEFA has been FARE's partner in the fight against racism in football for a number of years, and the two bodies organised a conference focusing on the issue in Barcelona in January. For the FARE Action Week, UEFA's staff team played the Geneva-based HOPE team comprising players of various nationalities.
Source: UEFA
