FOOTBALL FOR UNITY 2022 LAUNCH

Football For Unity 2022 festival was launched by St Patrick’s Athletic FC defender James Abankwah and Michael Darragh Macauley of the Dublin North East Inner City (NEIC) initiative, along with Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) Director Brian Kerr and Chief Executive Perry Ogden.

The six-weeks-long festival, organised by SARI and Dublin NEIC, will once again showcase the potential of football as an educational tool which can bring communities together and promote social inclusion for newcomers to Ireland.

SARI CEO Perry Ogden commented: “Last year’s inaugural Football For Unity event was a tremendous success. It attracted more than 500 participants, from at least 33 different countries – and we’re hoping to beat those numbers this year. The festival aims to foster the integration of third-country nationals sustainably through active participation in, and enjoyment of, football-based initiatives.”

Udinese-bound St Patrick’s Athletic defender James Abankwah said: “I love everything SARI are doing, not only tackling racism in society but also working hard to put the boot into homophobia, sexism and discrimination against people with disabilities too. I would encourage as many young people as possible to tog out for Football Against Unity, I’ll be doing my Leaving Certificate examinations while it’s on, but I hope to get down there some evenings to see a few games and sample the buzz and excitement.”

The project is funded by the UEFA Foundation for Children and Dublin City Council through the Dublin NEIC initiative and supported by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), UNHCR Ireland and the Irish Refugee Council.

For more information on the Football for Unity festival visit: www.footballforunity.ie