TACKLE Racism in Grassroots Football

Tackle Racism is an Erasmus+ project that aims to combat racism and xenophobia in football, by empowering coaches and managers of grassroots football to become agents of inclusion.

Grant Agreement Number: 622561-EPP-1-2020-1-CY-SPO-SCP

Funded by: Erasmus+ Duration: 01/01/2021 – 31/12/2022

  

Challenge

In recent years, a steadily growing number of initiatives around Europe aiming to combat racism in sport can be observed. However, the vast majority of these initiatives mainly focus on professional sport and football and not amateur football (including youth football) where similar incidents also appear.

Moreover, it is noted that players themselves often use racist discourse among themselves to provoke their opponents. Unfortunately, racism is making a resurgence around Europe and football represents another field where it is being expressed, witnessed and felt. The need to address racism and xenophobia in football, mostly at the grassroots level, where there is limited coverage and support for the players, coaches and fans involved, is urgent. Indeed, the existence of racism and discrimination in football is not a secret, but it remains underreported and more effective measures are needed.

Football, as the most popular sport, can act as driving force for community, transcending social or ethnic divisions. Within this context, grassroots football and local football clubs should provide a safe place, where everybody comes together behind a common sense, a common goal. To achieve this, football coaches and managers in grassroots football should be able to proactively manage and prevent racism, xenophobia, and other forms of intolerance.

Innovation

Tackle aims at combatting racism and xenophobia in football, mostly in grassroots football, by directly empowering people working at the forefront of football, staff, coaches and trainers of grassroots football to become agents of inclusion. To achieve this, Tackle ensures that the values of diversity and respect are embedded in their trainings, their interactions with their players and opponents as well as the operation of the clubs or teams they are involved in.

Action

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Project Partners