The zero must stand

The Waldeck-Frankenberg district wants to take stronger action against any kind of violence, racism and discrimination - especially in amateur soccer. To this end, it has entered into a partnership with the "Fairplay Hessen" initiative of the Hessian Football Association (HFV) and is making a free offer to soccer clubs: under the motto "The zero must stand", the cooperation partners in Waldeck-Frankenberg want to promote mutual respect on and off the soccer pitch. Exclusion has no place there, as it does everywhere.

For the project, the district has involved its two specialist services, Social Affairs and Sports and Youth Work, as well as the Network for Tolerance. The project aims to network clubs, raise awareness of the issue and bring it to the public's attention. Events will also be held to honor the commitment to combating racism and violence in amateur soccer. For the time being, the prevention work will focus on local soccer clubs, because that is where most athletes and the best structures are to be found. Later, all clubs that are committed to fair play, equal opportunities and respect in their daily interaction will receive similar offers.

Participation for soccer clubs is easy. They sign the Charter against Racism in Amateur Football and become members of the "Fairplay Hessen" initiative free of charge. As a result, they receive professional support in the form of two workshops from the Hessian Football Association, starting at the B-youth level. These help the clubs to develop their own mission statement against discrimination and violence. In addition to the free workshops, participating clubs receive match balls, captain's armbands, warm-up shirts, posters, displays, banners or posters expressing fair play. In the future, participating clubs will also appoint contact persons so that incidents can be specifically forwarded to the "Reporting Office for Violence and Discrimination" at the HFV.