At all matches of the Austrian Bundesliga (match day 12, 19 / 20 Oct.) and the First League (match day 13, 18 Oct.) a clear message was sent out: prejudices have no place in football! During line up the team captains made a statement against intolerance, homophobia and sexism from the pitch. Before kick-off a banner carrying the slogan “No place for discrimination" was presented and the players were accompanied by children with specially branded t-shirts. Also an info poster was distributed among spectators and fans.
The joint campaign has been coordinated by the anti-discrimination initiative FairPlay. Different Colours. One Game at VIDC in co-operation with the Austrian professional league.
For the first time this year the entire FA Women’s Bundesliga will mark the FARE Action Weeks with stadium actions on 3 November. Unfortunately, prejudice against women and women's football is still on the agenda.
Single clubs support the campaign with additional activities. For instance supporters of the First League club SKN St. Pölten staged on 18 October a special choreography and the players wore t-shirts designed by the fan club. During their next home game (26 Oct.) SK Sturm Graz will organise a range of anti-racist activities on and off the pitch. They support a workshop and invite young refugees linked to the Caritas project SIQ! (‘Sports – Integration – Qualification’).
Austrian FA shows racism the red card
The Austrian Football Association ÖFB will dedicate the FIFA World Cup qualifier match of the Austrian women national team against France to diversity and mutual respect in football. On 31 October the players will show racism the red card and will speak-out against discrimination.
In support of the campaign, Austrian International and Beşiktaş Istanbul midfielder Veli Kavlak said,
"Football unites every day millions of people from different backgrounds and football contributes that differences to disappear. Therefore, we must use this potential to fight together against common prejudices. Because in football there is no place for discrimination!"
The 14th edition of the FARE Action Weeks brings clubs, fans, associations, NGOs and minority groups from over 40 countries together. UEFA is mobilising all 32 clubs in the Champions League and the 48 participants in the Europa League for the campaign.
Grass-roots activities in Austria includes the women's football club MFFV23 which will distribute information material against sexism. Supporter groups such as fans of Wacker Innsbruck (Tivoli North), FC RB Salzburg, First Vienna FC and Vienna Sportklub are all active in and during the Action Weeks.
Bundesliga: A decade of action against racism
For the tenth subsequent season the Austrian Football League and its clubs have taken part in anti-discrimination weeks. Since 2004, 2,200 professional players, nearly 300 referees and more than 2,500 children have actively participated in the joint action. Hence, the Austrian Bundesliga is among the most active leagues in the field of education and awareness.
The FARE Action Weeks in Austria are coordinated by the FairPlay initiative at VIDC and are supported by the Ministry of Sport, the Austrian FA, the Austrian Bundesliga, the City of Vienna, FARE and UEFA.
Football is for everyone, regardless of their origin, skin colour or sexual orientation: No place for discrimination!
The current poster is available for download here.