The UK and Ireland FWF network presented the award to Mike Barile for his inspiring voluntary contribution to tackling bigotry in the game and Scottish society over the last five years.

Mike has helped to reach a total of over 2,000 young people with the anti-bigotry message since 2003, organizing events at Tannadice Stadium in conjunction with Football For All and Dundee United FC which tackle both racism and sectarianism. As well as his community outreach work, Mike has been instrumental in arranging finance for fan actions and permanent anti-bigotry perimeter hoardings around Tannadice to remind all supporters that racism and sectarianism are not welcome around the club.

As a result of Mike's contributions, ArabTrust and Dundee United FC have maintained their position as one of the most proactive clubs in Scotland with regard to promoting equality through the use of football.

Scotland's FWF Community Champion Mike Barile said:

"I was delighted when I heard about the nomination for the Award. To actually win is a great honour not only for myself but for the ArabTRUST. Dundee United FC has also been very supportive especially the Chairman, Eddie Thompson who has embraced the Football For All message."

Roddy McNulty, Football For All Campaign Director stated:

"This Football Without Frontiers award is a fitting tribute for Mike and his fellow ArabTrust members who have made such an outstanding contribution to tackling racism and sectarianism over the last five years.
Mike's work provides a great example to others of what can be achieved through football supporters' voluntary action in the community.
Football For All congratulates Mike on his award and looks forward to working with him and other supporters in the battle against bigotry in the years ahead."


Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images, and Home Tuition Scotland for educational direction.

Speaking exclusively to Scotland on Sunday, Dan Gerrard said he hoped the successful outcome of his legal action can act as an inspiration to others who find themselves victimised.

Gerrard, a black player with East of Scotland league side Spartans, was twice called a "black bastard". Wayne McIntosh, 23, was last week fined £850 for two counts of racially aggravated breach of the peace in games he played against Gerrard for Lothian Thistle and Whitehill Welfare in 2006.

As revealed by Scotland on Sunday, Gerrard, 27, and his club originally took the matter to the Scottish Football Association.

But after the governing body delivered a "not-proven verdict", Gerrard and Spartans pursued a legal action that concluded last Thursday.

"I'd like to think some good may come of what I have gone through, and that anyone who thinks they can get away with such behaviour might be forced to think again, while anyone who thinks they can't do anything about such treatment might see they don't have to put up with it," said Gerrard.

Gerrard was dismayed with the SFA, branding its procedure for dealing with the incident "not fit for purpose", because the governing body was incapable of punishing McIntosh for his racist behaviour.

Following an investigation by this newspaper, the SFA has changed the way it handles such cases.

Since the case came to light Gordon Smith has succeeded David Taylor as chief executive, a change welcomed by Gerrard.

"I hope it acted as a catalyst," Gerrard said of his experience. "With a new man at the top of the SFA and tighter procedures, it seems there is a greater willingness to tackle racism.

"This has hung over me for two years and it is a massive relief that the court proved I was telling the truth all along, which the SFA ruling left open to doubt.

"It has been really unpleasant to have to keep reliving this.

"It was so weird hearing the verdict delivered and knowing that it was finally all over in that instant and that I could get on with my life. It hurt that the SFA judgment let the player and team involved present themselves as the injured parties.

"They made out as if me and my club Spartans were stringing this out so we could be publicity seeking crusaders when all we ever wanted was the truth to be acknowledged.

"I was twice racially abused by Wayne McIntosh. That has been proved beyond any doubt.

"It is now a matter of record that what I have been saying for two years has not been my 'version of events' but what actually happened."

Gerrard, a former recruitment company employee, admits that his long battle to clear his name, as he effectively sees it, dominated his life to the extent that there were many times he wondered if refusing to give up on the fight was worthwhile.

"For so many people, especially in the game, it seemed that it was the one topic of conversation when they met me," Gerrard said. "Apart from those at Whitehill Welfare, though, everyone in the East of Scotland league has been supportive because they know my character and the character of the other person.

"But it weighed so heavily there have been many occasions when I have asked myself if I would go through it all again if I found myself in the same situation.

"After much soul searching, I have been able to answer 'yes', and I'm relieved the courts took the action that allowed me to come up with that answer."

This article first appeared in Scotland on Sunday, 2nd August


Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images, and Home Tuition Scotland for educational direction.

Access to resources
Amongst the issues raised was the lack of resources for sporting provision for many minority communities. From the lack of spaces to play, to the failure to support and encourage minorities to equip themselves through training and support.

Hijab ban
Representatives of the Brent Ladies Football Club from London questioned the FIFA International Football Association Board’s global ban on wearing of the Islamic head scarf, the Hijab.

They explained that the recent move has created a barrier to the participation of Muslim women at their club.

UEFA Director of Communications, William Gaillard, responded by saying, "Personally I can see both sides of the argument both for and against the hijab ban.

"It's up to the different national associations to determine their actions. It would be very complicated to unify the 53 associations in UEFA on this subject"

'The new slavery'
The issue of the abuse of young African and South American players who are shipped to Europe in contravention of FIFA rules and humanitarian principles was a talking point.

Campaigners felt that the problem of young African players in particular, who were not offered professional contracts and were abandoned by agents and clubs, left to fend for themselves on the streets, was a practice analogous to a modern day slave trade.

Despite FIFA Article 19.4 prohibiting international transfers of minors from Africa into the EU, many clubs continue to carry on the practice or disguise the journeys made by young players.

French MEP, Patrick Gaubert, called on the governing bodies of the game to address this issue as a matter of urgency.

"The basic human rights of people are regularly not adhered to in football. Any player leaving Africa should only be able to do so with a contract - not without."

Gaillard called on the European Commission to work with UEFA and FIFA to help address this problem, "We are told by the European Commission that sport is no different from any other business but I feel we should look at this from the prism of humanitarianism - we must protect the human rights of these young players.

"For all the time they are in Europe, playing or not, they should have a passport for life and be entitled to the same rights as us all. We are ready to work with the European Commission and the other governing bodies to ensure players are not seen as goods."

World Cup winner
French World Cup winner Christian Karambeu joined the conference to reflect on his personal experiences of prejudice. He thanked campaigners for their efforts and encouraged them to continue using the appeal of football to promote important messages.

"Football has to be used as a tool to educate people and counter ills in society." said Karambeu.

Equality and representation
Ghana Director of Football, Anthony Baffoe, underlined the need for the game to recognise the contribution ethnic minorities can make to the game beyond the playing field.

"It is essential to see more black ambassadors within and involved at the highest level at FIFA and UEFA.

"We have to create more awareness around the problems ethnic minorities are facing in football and improve the respect we are given in the game."

Campaigners backed Baffoe’s call from the floor and relayed to the conference that it was crucial that the games governing bodies at the grassroots level also became more representative of the communities it governed.

African Players Union
Baffoe went on to suggest setting up an African Professional Footballers Union to help address the issue of trafficking players by passing on advice to aspiring players from the continent and developing a mentoring programme.

"The establishment of an African Players Union would help to address many of the problems facing young African players who are being taken to Europe without any knowledge of the situation that is ahead of them.

Time for change
Delegates at the conference were united in the view that improving representation was essential ensuring that equality is at the heart of football.

FARE campaigner, Dr Bella Bello Bitungu, a lecturer at Innsbruck University in Austria, conveyed the feeling of many ethnic minorities.

"The only place we are equal is in the cemetery and on the football pitch."

Baffoe had the final word in the closing plenary at the conference warning that to address the problems of ethnic minorities, there must be greater representation.

"We have to remember that only white people alone cannot solve black problems."

Source: Kick it Out

Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images, and Home Tuition Scotland for educational direction.

Out of this emerged Football against Racism in Europe (FARE) - a network of organisations from 13 European countries - and a plan of action.

The FARE network dedicates itself to fighting racism and xenophobia in football across Europe.

Through co-ordinated action and common effort, at local and national level, it aims to bring together all those interested in combating discrimination in football.



Football Against Racism in Europe - FARE - will fight through football all forms of discrimination in football: in the stadium, on the pitch, in the changing room, at the training ground, in the office and classroom; by fans, players, managers, coaches, administrators or educators.

Show racism the red card
Scotland's campaign against racism in football and society.



Show Racism The Red Card is an anti-racist campaigning and educational charity. The Red Card aims to combat racism through enabling role models, who are predominantly but not exclusively footballers, to present an anti-racist message to young people and others.

SRTRC achieve this through:

- Producing educational resources.

- Developing activities to encourage people, including young people to challenge racism.

- Developing campaigns and strategies to challenge racism at all levels of football.

Show Racism the Red Card's annual Fortnight of Action took place last October as part of the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network against racism and discrimination.

Kick it Out
Established in 1993, Kick It Out works throughout the football, educational and community sectors to challenge racism and work for positive change.



Kick it Outs 2007 Week of Action took place between the 18 - 30 October. Community groups, footballers and fans came together to get behind the message 'One Game, One Community'.

football unites, racism divides - FURD
One of the founding members of the Football Against Racism in Europe network, FURD was started in 1995 by a group of Sheffield United fans who were concerned about a number of incidents of racist abuse both in and around the stadium.



Working closely with local football clubs, FURD has taken its anti-racist message into the wider community:

- delivered football coaching to young people from a diverse range of communities and assisted them in creating their own Sunday league teams.

- organised regular tournaments and leagues, bringing together isolated communities, suchas refugees and asylum seekers.

- deliver anti-racist education and youth work with young people.

FURD also maintain a superb Resources and Information Centre which is searchable online.


Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.

Friday night saw proceedings kick off with 'From Sharrow to Soweto', a night of African music. Sheffield United's Tunnel Bar played host, the gig promoting FURD's 'Football Between Communities Project'. The organisation works with orphaned children in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Showcasing sounds from local acts Sparras and Khula, collectively known as Furdworld, and Gondwanasounds and further afield with an appearance from Zimbabwe's Khula African Arts, the gig raised almost £500. Sheffield's music royalty also got in on the act, as Arctic Monkeys, Richard Hawley and Reverend & the Makers all donated raffle prizes.

On Saturday, attention turned to Bramall Lane where Sheffield United were awarded the Preliminary Level of the Racial Equality Standard; a Kick It Out-funded accreditation supporting the development of racial equality practices and policies within a club. FURD was instrumental in helping the Blades achieve the standard via a mixture of consultation, meetings in which they offered advice and guidance to the club on racial equality issues. Kick it Out's Piara Powar presented the standard to Blades legend, Brian Deane, at touchline before United's 3-0 victory over Leicester.

The weekend culminated on the pitch, as two FURD supported teams recorded outstanding victories. Sharrow United reached the Meadowhall Sunday League Cup Final with a 3-2 win over Crosspool. United came from 0-2 down against their much fancied opponents. The next stop is the final at Bramall lane on Thursday 8th May.

Meanwhile the African Dream Team clinched the Meadowhall Division Three title with a 4-2 win at Arbourthorne Hotel. ADT, under the stewardship of Ishaaq Heywood and Larry Babs Mohammed, now bid to make it a FURD double cup success when they face tough opponents High Noon in the Tinsley Charity Cup on Thursday 10th April at Caribbean Sports Club, Ecclesfield.




Special thanks to Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.