June 28 – UEFA have announced the inaugural recipients of their ‘FootbALL Awards’, recognising the contribution to social change.
The winners are Belgium’s Football Association, the German Football League, Arsenal football club and former France international Lilian Thuram.
All four have been recognised for committing to sustainability and anti-discrimination issues.
The ‘FootbALL’ programme was launched at the Champions League final earlier this month. The Belgian FA (RBFA) was one of the first national associations to establish a comprehensive football social responsibility strategy.
The German Football League (DFL) has been recognised for continuous fight against discrimination and for their activities during International Weeks Against Racism, UEFA said.
Arsenal introduced an initiative with Adidas called ‘No More Red’, which aims to help keep young people safe from knife crime by providing safe spaces. The north London side are also the first club to integrate British Sign Language into their home games, with a certified interpreter present at each matchday.
Thuram, a 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 champion with France, has been recognised as a long-time anti-racism advocate.
“Their work showcases the importance of leading by example, which is exactly what the FootbALL programme represents,” said UEFA Director of Social & Environmental Sustainability Michele Uva.
The awards will be presented at the 2023 UEFA RESPECT Forum taking place in Frankfurt, Germany from June 28-29.
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