Tackling Discrimination - A Best Practice Guide has been published by Football For All.
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Special thanks to
Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images, and
Home Tuition Scotland for educational direction.
FFA coordinates a nationwide educational campaign to tackle religious bigotry in football and society.
[more]This aspect of the campaign involved the delivery of over 200 joint Kick Out Bigotry educational workshops and fun football coaching sessions to a total of around 6,000 pupils, funded by local authorities.
We also work in partnership with Equality Forward to deliver high quality Kick-Out Bigotry educational sessions to Scotland’s third level students.
FFA works closely with Scotland’s professional football players’ as part of the Kick Out Bigotry educational scheme, ensuring players are trained to the necessary standards to deliver high quality educational sessions to the respective audiences. Players who have been involved in recent years include ex old firm stars Gerry Britton, Derek Ferguson and Mark McNally.
For further information on the prodigious results of this scheme and how to access Kick Out Bigotry educational work at low cost please contact FFA
by email.
Special thanks to
Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
SPL managers support the Kick-Out Bigotry campaign.
Many of Scotland's top managers added their voice to the recent Kick-Out Bigotry awareness campaign, providing interviews and signing the Kick-Out Bigotry pledge.
[more]
Jim Jeffries, Kilmarnock FC
Mark McGhee, Mothertwell FC
John Collins, (ex)Hibernian FC
John Hughes, Falkirk FC
Craig Levein, Dundee Utd FC
Davie Irons, Gretna FC
Stevie Frail, Heart Of Midlothian FC
Special thanks to
Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
Newcastle United fans who subjected Mido, Middlesbrough's Egyptian striker, to Islamophobic abuse during Sunday's match at The Riverside could soon be banned from watching football.
[more]The Football Association launched an investigation yesterday into events on Teesside when officials began studying audio and video footage of the game. Sources said that racist chants directed at Mido from visiting Newcastle supporters were "clearly audible" and it is understood that the FA will contact Cleveland police today and ask for their cooperation in identifying those involved before making them the subject of banning orders.
An FA spokesman said last night: "We are very much in favour of banning orders being imposed on anyone identified as engaging in racist behaviour in football. The FA will obviously work with the police on all football disorder related matters."
During Sunday's 2-2 draw, when Mido, a Muslim, scored Boro's first equaliser, the Egypt international was taunted with anti-Arab chants. Five arrests were made at the game and, while none were racism-related, police were aware of the abuse. But the police did not initially pursue the matter yesterday as Middlesbrough informed them the club would not be making a formal complaint. A Cleveland police spokeswoman said they would, however, cooperate with the FA investigation.
Newcastle's failure to issue a statement condemning Islamophobic abuse in football raised eyebrows in certain quarters - not least among their supporters in Egypt where the Tyneside club commands a sizeable following - but Middlesbrough will not be asking them to say sorry. "I don't think it's necessary," said Boro's manager Gareth Southgate, who is close to signing another Egypt international, Mohammed Shawky, a central midfielder from Cairo's Al-Ahly for £250,000. "I don't think a club can always take responsibility for the actions of its supporters."
The Guardian, Wednesday August 29 2007
Special thanks to
Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
Scotland's football grounds have long been renowned as cathedrals of sporting passion, but now they are being used as places of worship.
Every team in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) has made facilities available to allow Muslim players to pray before and after games.
[more]The allocation of prayer rooms has been welcomed by players and Muslim groups.
The SPL clubs acted unanimously and voluntarily to accommodate Hibs' Moroccan players Merouane Zemmama and Abdessalam Benjelloun, who are devout Muslims.
Zemmama confirmed that a quiet room where he and his fellow countryman can pray has been created at Easter Road and at every other top-flight Scottish stadium.
The midfielder expressed his gratitude to the rival clubs for their assistance. "I want to say a big thank you to them."
The north African star also praised his manager John Collins for going out of his way to assist the players during the holy month of Ramadan.
He said: "The manager was fantastic. He understands how important our religion is to us. The whole club was very respectful: manager, team-mates and fans. John trained with us, just the three of us. We can't eat or drink during daylight hours, so it was best for our bodies to start training at about 5pm, and then eat straight after. Everybody else had finished training, but the manager was there."
Throughout Ramadan, Collins played the Moroccans sparingly, allowing them to conserve their strength.
Humza Yousaf, press assistant to Scotland's first Muslim MSP Bashir Mann and a keen football supporter, was delighted by the move. He said: "This is a positive step. It is great that all the SPL clubs are recognising that modern Scotland is a multi-faith, multi-cultural nation. It gives out a strong message that we are a welcoming and diverse fan."
In recent years, a number of Muslims have competed in Scotland's top league, including Guinean internationalist Mohammed 'Momo' Sylla, who played for St Johnstone, Celtic and Kilmarnock, and Moroccan duo Hicham Zerouali and Rachid Belabed, who played for Aberdeen.
Last year, English Premiership club Bolton Wanderers became the first in the UK to open a prayer room for fans.
Adult Muslims are required to pray five times daily, as part of their religion.
Source: Scotland on Sunday
Special thanks to
Cocoa Rose Photography for provision of images.
