EFDN Highlights: January 2020

EFDN Highlights: January 2020

As 2020 comes to an end, EFDN invites you to look back on this year’s activities, projects and news stories. Take a look at some highlights from January.

Tackling Colour Blindness in Sport (TACBIS)

EFDN launched the TACBIS programme in January to raise awareness about and combat the exclusion of colour blinded individuals from football. Together with partners Colour Blind Awareness, Oxford Brookes University, Randers FC, and the National Football Associations of Iceland, Romania and Portugal, EFDN initiated the TACBIS pan-European programme to:

• Investigate the prevalence of colour blindness in football (fans and players);
• Identify barriers to progression for colour blind players; and
• Promote football atmospheres that are colour blind friendly.

On the 20^th and 21^st of January, EFDN hosted the first project meeting at Oxford Brookes University to kick-off the programme. Partner organisations had the opportunity to meet and learn about each other and exchange knowledge and best practices to develop a TACBIS methodology. Data collection, monitoring & evaluation, communication, project planning and financing were among the important themes discussed in the project meeting.

EFDN – Special Olympics Europe Eurasia Meeting

A year after signing a partnership agreement in Prague, EFDN and Special Olympics Europe Eurasia met at the EFDN offices in Breda to discuss ways to strengthen the partnership and expand their work. Together, we aim to create more opportunities for people with disabilities in Europe to participate and engage with both their football club and their community. With already 140,000 registered players and coaches in 58 countries across Europe and Eurasia, EFDN and Special Olympics pledged mutual support to continue developing such programmes through grassroots and professional channels.

Second OUT! Meeting at the Westfalenstadion

On January 23^rd, EFDN attended the second transnational network meeting of OUT!, an initiative led by Football Supporters Europe aimed at tackling homo-, bi- and trans-phobia in European football. After a successful first meeting last year in London where the main talking point was fans’ roles, Fußssballfans gegen Homophobie (FFGH) hosted the Royal Belgian Football Association, Pride in Football and other project partners and stakeholders to talk about the role clubs and players should play in this fight. Read this article for more on the meeting programme and its final learning outcomes and conclusions.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 27^th marks the day we commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. This year, on the 75^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Birkenau, EFDN showcased the work our members have taken on to stand against Antisemitism and pay homage to those we lost. Visit these stories to learn more about:

• Chelsea FC’s “Say No To Antisemitism” campaign;
• The Premier League’s “Standing Together” promotional video;
• Bayern Munich and FC Schalke’s matchday initiative; and
• The German Football League’s “Nie wieder” (“Never Again”) slogan.

Member News

Getafe CF Foundation launched “Women and Leadership Forum” to use football to empower women in all realms of society.

FC Midtjylland Samfund received a €400,000 donation from the TrygFoundation for their “Together in the Field” project which supports the unemployed and uneducated in finding jobs and going back to school.

AFC Ajax raised money on Charity Matchday and through an online auction of match-worn shirts for the Emma Children’s Hospital to develop infrastructure and child support systems.

New Members

In January, EFDN welcomed new members Malmö FF and BSC Young Boys.