A football competition staged in London which attracted gay football clubs from across Europe, has been hailed a huge success and given further credence to The FA’s lead on tackling homophobia in the game.
Teams from Copenhagen, Berlin, Paris and Barcelona joined up with English clubs to compete for the top honour in an event at Regent’s Park organised by Leftfooters FC, a fun-based club made up mainly of gay and lesbian players.
Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport and Tourism, welcomed the players to London and added his backing for the event. “Grassroots tournament such as this play an important and valued role to celebrate sport at the highest level, promoting international links within the world of football and underlining the fundamental message that homophobia and discrimination have no place in sport,” he said.
“The message is all the more timely while we are competing to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.”
“I congratulate Leftfooters FC as well as their supporters such as The FA and the Gay Football Supporters Network. Hosting this important sporting event is a great achievement and I hope that its success will ensure it is repeated in the sporting calendar.”
Overall winners were Bristol Panthers, who remained unbeaten in their group matches and beat Paris Arc-En-Ciel 1-0 in the final.
There was individual success as well for the Panthers’ Carl Gilbert, who finished top-scorer in the tournament with six goals to his credit.
In adding her congratulations on the success of the event, Lucy Faulkner, The FA’s Ethics and Sports Equity manager, underlined the high esteem The FA’s policies are held in across Europe. “Under our Ethics and Sports Equity strategy, The FA’s opposition to homophobia is well known. Already UEFA, the Dutch Ministry of Sport and the Spanish Football Association have asked for guidance from us on our approach, which goes under the Football For All banner. The FA has also been praised by the European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation for making clear its opposition policies on tackling homophobia.”
A further example of The FA’s campaign to oppose homophobia is highlighted by their support of this August’s Manchester Pride 2005 event – the 10-day Gay and Lesbian summer festival which annually attracts tens of thousands of people from across the world. One of the major attractions will be a football tournament which has already attracted more than 30 teams.
The Manchester FA are also in the process of organising a series of football-related activities around Manchester Pride 2005 and the Pride Games which runs alongside it.
For more details go to www.Manchesterfa.co.uk
To report instances of abuse, discrimination or racism, call Freephone 0800 085 0508 or go to www.thefa.com/TheFA/EthicsAndSportsEquity/Gender/
