31.07.2012

FIFA and Kick It Out to hold joint event

FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter will join a gathering of English football’s leading administrators today (Tuesday 31 July) at Wembley Stadium to discuss how football can help beat the scourge of racism.

The event will take place before the Great vs. Brazil Olympic womens football match as Sep Blatter is joined by Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley, FA Chairman David Bernstein, FIFA’s first female member of the Executive Committee Lydia Nsekera from the Burundi FA, and The Football Association’s first female board member, Heather Rabbatts, to pledge their collective support and commitment to tackling discrimination in football.

The event will be attended by campaigners, Kick It Out and FIFA representatives, and people working in football at all levels in England. The two-hour event, will precede the Team GB v Brazil women's Olympic Football Tournament match.

Kick it Out’s Communications Manager Danny Lynch told FIFA.com: “As the governing body of world football, FIFA’s role is not as well understood in England as it should be. There is inadequate widespread knowledge of how its initiatives promote equality and inclusion. Equally, the role of Kick it Out has been scrutinised in a season of high-profile incidents involving incidents of alleged racist abuse.

“This gathering aims to enhance awareness of FIFA at the forefront of developing football’s inclusivity and enhancing participation in the game, as well as Kick It Out’s role, working through education and community sectors, to achieve positive change.”

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