Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - European Commission Praise Football for All

15 October 2010

Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy, has praised the Irish Football Association’s EU funded Football For All Project for its impact promoting Community Relations in Northern Ireland

Commissioner Hahn said: "Over the last 10 years, the Football For All project has transformed the atmosphere at Northern Ireland international football games creating a fun, safe and family friendly environment. Bringing together key partners from both the private and public sectors, the project has played a central role to get real progress in community relations in football. I am proud that EU funding has been essential for its success. Not only has Football For All made a meaningful difference locally, but we also see it as model which other countries around Europe can learn from and aspire to."

The IFA’s Head of Community Relations, Michael Boyd, who founded the IFA’s Football For All Community Relations Strategy in 2000 was invited to speak in Brussels October 6 at an EU Open Day as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities. Michael took part in the press panel on cohesion policy and uniting divided communities: the experience of football.

He was joined by William Gaillard from UEFA, Valeriu Nicolae who manages an intercultural football project in Romania, Johannes Hahn, the European Commissioner for Regional Policy and Androulla Vassiliou EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

Michael said: “It was a real honour to be invited to participate in the press panel. Without the support of the EU Peace funding we would not have been able to develop our Football For All model based on education, support and communication. This model empowered and supported the Northern Ireland football fans to tackle the issue of sectarianism and has transformed the atmosphere at Northern Ireland football games.

“This model is also supporting the mainstreaming of the Football For All message at the heart of the Irish Football Association empowering and supporting staff and volunteers to create a fun, safe and inclusive culture through football at all levels.

"Ultimately Football For All’s success is all about the support of staff, volunteers and football fans who are promoting the Football For All message throughout all the strands of the game and at community level.”

Michael added: “In particular I would like to thank our Football For All Advisory Panel for their support and guidance. Football For All is facilitating changes which we hope will help Northern Ireland football to reflect a new, more confident, diverse and inclusive Northern Ireland both locally and globally.”

Football For All (FFA) is supported by a volunteer FFA Advisory Panel which guides and supports the Irish Football Association’s Football For All Community Relations Department.

The FFA Advisory Panel includes influential representatives from the following stakeholders:

• IFA Senior Management Team, including the IFA Chief Executive;

• The Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs;

• Northern Ireland Sports Council;

• Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities;

• Northern Ireland Community Relations Council;

• Community Relations Consultants;

• Queen’s University;

• University of Ulster;

• Police Service of Northern Ireland;

• Private and Public Bodies;

• Local Politicians;

• Irish League clubs;

• Volunteer Bodies.