FA of Finland – anti- racism program

Background Research on racism in Finnish football –147 games observed 2007 –Capital region referee reports re-evaluated –1347 referees interviewed Results: –Football is often acts as the first integrating aspect of society to immigrants (95% of all Sports) –15% of Helsinki population are living in multicultural families, 1/10 of them are immigrants (City of Helsinki, Institute of Migration) –Referees reported race related red cards seven fold in the IV division and 13 fold in the V division in comparison with the Finnish Premier League - Veikkausliiga –Alongside with racism there are unnecessary accusations of racism, both as direct and indirect acts and expressions –There are several teams where the combining force is one ethnic background –The problems are exaggerated in the ethnic based teams, games and tournaments –Several of these ethnic based teams need more support in understanding rules and regulations of the game, Finnish league football and about the law of association in Finland –There is a clear “glass ceiling” to immigrants to be joining existing Finnish football clubs –Racism is also evident at the junior level, both in boys and in girls games; and also in the international junior tournaments –Approximately 800 cases of racism are estimated to be in Finnish football, approximately 50 of them are dealt with in the FA or FA district disciplinary committees –Underlying conflict: part of the football family thinks that Finns with immigrant background get bookings easier than ethnic Finns and some think the case is exactly reversed –Some referees don’t accept women or girls from their own ethnic group to be wearing assigned football uniform –All referees don’t know what is acceptable for assigned football uniform, esp. Muslim girls scarves.

a)Mainstreaming the issue to all activities of FA of Finland b)FA of Finland training and 12 districts training, alongside with internal communication (making clear that the issue is priority) –Training of trainers FA main office (Dec 2007 – April 2008) FA 12 districts (Feb 2008 – Sep 2008) –Special emphasis training Major club teams Referee training at 6 levels Coaches in cooperation with Finnish Football Coaches Association Database on good practices –Changes into the delegate, referee and disciplinary actions Delegates provided with “action in case of racism observed” – envelope FA and FA district disciplinary committee special training Match report c)External training, communications and public relations –Media Campaigning in TV, print media and web esp. EURO2009 –All football sites with banner and link to –PR Events (Narinkkatori anti-racism event, anti-racism all-star games) –Special events at 28 Veikkausliiga – games –TV-campaign at YLE, “Rasisti on reppana” (May 2008 – Sep 2009) Men’s and women’s national team and all junior national teams UEFA Women’s Euro2009 Roman Eremenko & Bastian Sweinsteiger, World Cup qualifyer

2010  Sustainable development Follow up -system –Indicator system in place – Match reports to FA and FA districts Increased accessibility to immigrants and Finnish with immigrant backgrounds to existing club teams –Information database in the web – best practices for club teams –Continuing education and awareness program as part of the existing coaching-, refereeing- and player training Anti-racism activities mainstreamed to all FA of Finland activities –Training systems in place to all 12 FA districts in Finland –Tolerance mediation as integrated part of the Disciplinary Committee Mainstreaming the issue to all partners activities Lasting effect to the Finnish society Kevin Mombilo Suomi – Ruotsi U ( )