UEFA Super Cup – Football is united against online hate

UEFA Super Cup – Football is united against online hate

BT’S Hope United and our partner UEFA Foundation for Children have joined forces to help stamp out online abuse and discrimination through the UEFA Super Cup and a unique community match in Belfast.

This year’s UEFA Super Cup, between Chelsea and Villarreal, is taking place on Wednesday 11 August in Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. The UEFA Foundation for Children will use the opening ceremony to raise awareness about online hate in sport and among young people with the help of Hope United, a campaign launched by BT, broadcasters of the UEFA Super Cup. Hope United brings together a diverse team of footballers from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with the aim of driving change and giving digital skills to people on how to protect themselves and others online.

During the pre-match ceremony, children selected by the Irish FA foundation and Rio Ferdinand foundations will present the Unite Against Hate banner and read a message of hope promoting respect and solidarity online.

To raise awareness of the campaign ahead of the Super Cup, BT Sport hosted a match involving children aged between 14 and 17 from community projects across Northern Ireland that are helping to bridge the sectarian divide and care for refugees who have settled here.

Players from both teams were representing Hope United, supported by footballing legends and BT Sport analysts Glenn Hoddle and Joe Cole, who were acting as coaches for either side. The match was organised by the Irish FA at Crusader FC’s Seaview ground and was treated like a professional match in that it was filmed by six cameras and presented by Rio Ferdinand, Eni Aluko and Jake Humphrey, with Darren Fletcher and Steve McManaman in the commentary booth.

“My work, both on and off the pitch, has taught me that there is no hiding place from social media abuse,” the England and Manchester United FC legend Rio Ferdinand, who is now a BT pundit, explained. “Passions run high during big football tournaments and having seen first-hand the devastating effect that can result from online hate , it is more important than ever that sport unites to combat it.”

“Young people are all too often victims of hate messages and harassment on social media and it is our duty to defend them,” said Urs Kluser, general secretary of the UEFA Foundation for Children. “Thanks to the BT Tech Tips to beat online hate, young people can access real tools that teach them how to detect and respond to abuse but also learn to be more conscious about their own action online and to lead by example.”