UEFA Cup events to close FARE Action Week

(2 November 2006) The 7th edition of the FARE Action Week, after hitting the highest point with a series of high profile and grassroots events at the week-end of the 28-29 October, closes with a prominent symbolic action at the UEFA Cup match between FK Partizan and AS Livorno on 2 November in Belgrade. The players of both teams will carry onto the pitch two big banners with the Partizan motto “We don’t divide, black – white, we unite”. The Partizan and Livorno players as well as the referees will wear anti-racism message T-shirts. To demonstrate that racist gestures will not be tolerated both teams will present to their fans a sign saying “POKAZI RASIZMU CRVENI KARTON” (Show racism the red card). After a dispute with the UEFA competitions department, the European football governing have now given the green light to AS Nancy-Lorraine to wear the slogan ‘non au racisme’ on their shirts in their UEFA Cup match against Polish side Wis³a Kraków at the Stade Marcel Picot on Thursday 2nd November. UEFA has given the French club special dispensation to keep the anti-racism slogan for the game to mark the FARE Action Week. UEFA’s communication and public affairs director William Gaillard said:I am happy to say that we have been able to find a compromise, given UEFA’s campaign against racism in football.

Enhancement of Jewish Arab co-existence in Israel

This is the first year that Israel will be taking part in the pan-European week of action against racism and discrimination. The central anti-racist event has been delayed until November 4th, so that it can take part prior to the Israel Premier League’s biggest game, at Teddy Stadium between Betar Jerusalem and Maccabi Haifa, Israel’s champions. The overall aim is to combat racism against Israel’s Arab ethnic minority, immigrant players and overseas Black players. Prior to the FARE Action Week Israel’s Deputy State Prosecutor Shay Nitzan has reminded the police in a letter that racist chants at football matches are prohibited according to a law passed in 2005. He said that police who are present at a sporting event and hear racist chants, such as “Death to Arabs,” by groups or individuals, should begin collecting evidence with a view to bringing the perpetrators to trial.

Further information from:

Kurt Wachter, FARE partner FairPlay-vidc, Tel  0043 1 7133594-90, fairplay [at] vidc [dot] org Leon Mann, FARE partner Kick It Out, Tel. 0044 207 684 4884, leon [at] kickitout [dot] org

Notes

The List of Activities during the FARE Action Week is published on http://www.farenet.org/actionweek_events.asp An electronic version of new FARE Action Week poster can also be downloaded from http://www.farenet.org/resources/Poster_ActionWeek06.pdf