The FA supports Chelsea's 'Game for Equality' on Saturday

Saturday 21 Feb 2015
The FA is supporting Chelsea’s ‘Game for Equality’
The Football Association is supporting Chelsea's 'Game for Equality' on Saturday.

The Premier League leaders have joined forces with Kick It Out, Football v Homophobia, Show Racism the Red Card, the Premier League and The FA to underline their commitment to tackling discrimination in all forms, while promoting equality throughout the club, its communities and supporters.

The initiative falls under Chelsea's Building Bridges campaign and is fully supported by the first-team squad, who will wear the logo on their kit during the Premier League match against Burnley.

Paul Elliott, a member of The FA's Inclusion Advisory Board and FA Council, said: "It was an honour to become Chelsea's first black captain back in 1991. I knew then what I know now; it's a great club with strong leadership, and the work it does on the inclusion and anti-discrimination agenda is plentiful and something I have great respect for.

Elliot is a former Chelsea captain

Elliot is a former Chelsea captain

"The incident in Paris was the actions of the mindless few. Today's Game for Equality is about celebrating the overwhelming majority of people connected to Chelsea FC, who embrace diversity and people from all backgrounds, from all around the globe.

"One just has to look at multiculturalism within the club, from a Russian owner, an American chairman in Bruce Buck, a Nigerian technical director in Michael Emenalo as well as playing staff that is truly global, all which reinforces this message."

Graeme Le Saux, a fellow IAB member and another former Chelsea stalwart said: "This is the second designated Game for Equality which is great to see. As someone who works in this field and has spent an entire playing career fighting discrimination, I have seen a lot of progress. I remember talking homophobia at last year's fixture and the strides we've made on that particular agenda.

"We need to harness the positive consequences of the scenes like the ones we witnessed in Paris by celebrating the good work being done not only at Chelsea, but across the game and reflect on what equality means to us as individuals and what we can do to further it, whether as players, officials or fans."

Blues midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who has been a long-term campaigner for equality and anti-discrimination, added: "As a squad and a club we are fully committed to standing up to all forms of discrimination."

Speaking to ChelseaFC.com, he continued: "At Chelsea we all get along with each other whether we are from Africa, Europe, America, Russia and regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality.  That is not important, it’s about the person.

"I support all work promoting equality and days like this will help get the message out. There is no place for discrimination within our club and our communities should be open to all."

By FA Staff