The motto "Football Unites, Racism Divides" is the credo behind an antiracism initiative in the sports arena. In February 1999, supporter clubs and anti-racist football campaigns invited players' organisations and football associations to meet in Vienna to combat xenophobia and racist abuse on and off the pitch. As a result, Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) was established with member and partner organisations in 13 different countries.
Sports Against Racism in Ireland (SARI) is now part of the European network and has been organising a multiethnic sports festival for the past three years. Inspired by FARE's anti-racism week which takes place from March 31st to April 9th, SARI, in partnership with Show Racism the Red Card, is launching a poster this week of the Republic of Ireland soccer squad with the "show racism the red card" logo. The poster will be distributed to football clubs. The initiative has the backing of SIPTU, the City Bridges project and the Mandate and Impact unions, as well as the Professional Footballers' Association. SARI was set up by Frank Buckley and Ken McCue, community activists, as a bulwark against racism on Irish streets.
"It started during the European Year Against Racism," says McCue. "We found it quite frightening when [racist] graffiti started appearing on the walls in inner-city communities; there was an obvious reaction in the pubs, in the clubs and on the street to the arrival of asylum-seekers. We looked at a vehicle for combating racism, and sport was what we came up with, so we set up soccer against racism," he explains.
Its first multi-ethnic tournament, in June 1997, was a great success. Consequently a two-day football festival and Mardi Gras were staged in the last two years. With guest managers such as soccer players Curtis Fleming (Middlesborough) and Chris Kamara (Leeds), the junior teams taking part got the chance of a lifetime to be coached by their sporting idols.
For further information about SARI and Show Racism the Red Card's poster, contact SARI, tel: 01-8735077.
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