Club joins UEFA in campaign against discrimination CELTICS first-team players and management have thrown their weight behind football’s European wide campaign against racism. As a UEFA Champions League Club, Celtic has joined UEFA in campaigning against racism and to mark the current fortnight of action, the Club’s players have spoken out against discrimination in a new official club video. The video will feature on the Club’s media platforms and will also be shown at matches at Celtic Park throughout the season. Locally, Celtic will also be supporting the Show Racism the Red Card Campaign within Scotland, which starts this weekend and will see Celtic players show their opposition to racism. Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “As we mark the European-wide fortnight against racism, Celtic is delighted to project such a strong message. As a UEFA Champions League Club, we fully understand the reach and profile we enjoy and therefore the power we have to project a positive message. Clearly, football cannot be blamed for all society’s ills. However, we can make an impact and act as important ambassadors to promote the positive messages of tolerance, and inclusion – these are Celtic’s values. Wherever racism and intolerance exists in society, it needs to be addressed and tackled and we are delighted to play our part in highlighting this important issue. Only last week, in an address to the United Nations, UEFA President Michel Platini underlined UEFA´s unbending commitment to fighting racism, discrimination and intolerance in football. Mr Platini said the most beautiful game in the world could help set an example through its popularity and social standing – and serve to transmit values that could help change attitudes in relation to these negative phenomena. He added: Football, however, is merely the tip of the iceberg in societies in which the situation is so bad that the social integration process has, unfortunately, broken down completely. On the other hand, because it is often more open to diversity than the rest of society, progress can be made more easily in football than in other social fields. And it is because football is the most beautiful game in the world, and so popular, that we can legitimately hope that the example it must set will have positive repercussions on the whole of society. Mr Platini added that the message of sport is a universal one aimed particularly at the citizens of tomorrow. And the UEFA President concluded: Let us do everything to ensure that it is a message of justice, serenity and hope.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Oct 2013 09:39:28 +0000