FOOTBALL FOR UNITY

FOOTBALL FOR UNITY

The Football for Unity festival aspires to showcase the potential of football as an educational tool which can bring communities together and promote social inclusion for newcomers to Ireland.

The festival comprises a number of football tournaments in various age categories and takes place at venues across the north-east inner city of Dublin, invoking the spirit of the
Gloucester Diamond.

UEFA EURO 2020 / FOOTBALL FOR UNITY

The UEFA EURO 2020 was held in 11 different cities across 11 European countries.

The unique multi-country structure provided an ideal platform to showcase the potential of football as an educational catalyst to lead to positive social inclusion outcomes for third-country nationals (TCN).

Although Dublin was ultimately not a host city for EURO 2020, it remained one of the seven cities chosen to host Football for Unity festivals.

SARI — in conjunction with local stakeholders NEIC, UNHCR, Irish Refugee Council, Dublin City Council, the FAI and Bohemian FC — hosted a Football for Unity festival incorporating 7-a-side football tournaments across the north-east inner city of Dublin, a Youth Forum and a Legacy programme of training nights.

The inaugural Football for Unity festival was funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children.

FOOTBALL FOR UNITY

Total number of teams 46
Total number of players 548
Total number of player from non-Irish nationality 286
Total number of girls/young women 186
Total number of girls under-19 124
Total number of boys under-18 171
Total number of additional participants 122
Total number of participant gaining PDP coaching badges 12

Football for Unity 2022 is supported by the UEFA Foundation for Children and Dublin City Council through the North East Inner City initiative.