St Pats to host top Polish team

St Patrick’s Athletic FC have announced that Wisla Krakow, Poland’s most successful football club over recent years, will play a friendly match against St Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park on Tuesday, November 13th with a 7.45pm kick-off.

It is a bid to increase the Polish support for the Eircom League of Ireland side. Maybe some people will come to support Wisla Krakow, but there are Polish people in Dublin from all over Poland and they may support St Pats.

Champions of Poland on five occasions since 1999, the current Wisla Krakow squad contains no fewer than eight full Polish internationals. The team currently lies in 1st place in the Polish championship. In July of this year Wisla travelled to the United States to compete in, and win, the inaugural Chicago Trophy beating reigning UEFA Cup champions Sevilla FC in the final.

The fixture is sure to be of huge appeal to the sizeable Polish community living in the Dublin area and St Patrick’s Athletic manager Johnny McDonnell is enthused by the prospect of hosting Polish opposition at Richmond Park.

Wisla coach, Maciej Skorza, welcomed the opportunity to play Irish opposition in Dublin. “The timing of this match is ideal. The domestic season in Poland commenced in September so my players are in great condition right now. The St Patrick’s Athletic team has made great progress this season and the challenge for us will be stiff, but with so many Polish people living in Dublin I expect Wisla to feel right at home in Richmond Park!”

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PSV Eindhoven Show Racism the Red Card

PSV Eindhoven have taken the Show Racism the Red Card message to their supporters as part of their activity in FARE Action Week against racism.


PSV will again take part in the FARE Action Week. FARE stands for ‘Football Against Racism in Europe’ and PSV is the only Dutch club that has joined this network. PSV will organise several activities at their upcoming home matches at the Philips Stadium against VVV-Venlo and Fenerbahçe SK.

The Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) Action Week – supported by UEFA - is the focus of European football's symbolic stand against racism and discrimination. This year's activities are taking place between 17 and 30 October. The Action Week will once again feature activities by fans, players, clubs, associations, minority organisations, anti-discrimination groups, youth centres, schools and the sports media. In all, the FARE Action Week will see more than 2,000 singled activities in 37 European countries.

PSV organised an anti-racism day at their home match against VVV-Venlo on Saturday 20 October. Ahead of the game, a new anti-racism film and a message from captain Timmy Simons was shown on the large screens in the stadium. The 22 children that accompany the two teams onto the pitch wore t-shirts with an anti-racism slogan. In close co-operation with Light Town Madness, the PSV Supporters’ Association and PSV Fans United, an atmosphere enhancing activity will took place in one of the stands.

Ahead of the Champions League encounter with Fenerbahçe SK on Tuesday 23 October a letter with an anti-racism message will be read and the 22 children that accompany the players onto the pitch will be wearing t-shirts with an anti-racism slogan, while the team captains will be wearing armbands bearing the slogan ‘Unite against Racism’.

The Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network was formed in 1999 by fan groups and NGOs concerned at the rising tide of racism in European football. Today, the network has active partners in almost 40 countries and is working across the game with players, community groups, fans and governing bodies. FARE acts as an umbrella organisation for those challenging racism and discrimination throughout Europe.

PSV Media will cover the action week and two new projects, ‘Scoring against racism’ and ‘PSV Street Football’, will be launced. Inflatable football pitches will be put up in several areas in Eindhoven and a football tournament will be organised, with the help of area youth workers.

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Germany Show Racism the Red Card in Bundesliga

The Bundesliga's 36 clubs will unite for the next two rounds of the competition to show racism a collective red card, the German Football League (DFL) announced on Wednesday.

Before this weekend's 18 first and second Bundesliga games, all players, trainers and referees involved will each hold up a red cardboard placard in a symbolic gesture to "give racism the red card".

The initiative, to promote tolerance and respect in football, is part of a movement across the continent called Football against racism in Europe (FARE). "Millions of fans follow the Bundesliga week after week, supporting the stars of their club, regardless of their origin or colour," said DFL president Reinhard Rauball.

Fans at all Bundesliga games this weekend and next will be handed red placards and invited to join in the gesture before kick-off. Certain areas of Germany, particularly in the former GDR, have encountered problems with racism.

In September 2006, Schalke 04 striker Gerald Asamoah was the target of racist abuse during a game against Hansa Rostock. The German Football Federation (DFB) ordered Rostock to pay a record fine of 20,000 euros.

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Navy provides firepower for Red Card

This year Show Racism the Red Card has been launched locally at arts centres, museums, education establishments, city halls so we decided to ask the Navy to add to our arsenal of support.

Cobh is the home of the Irish Naval Service so it was all aboard the Navy's newest boat the 'LE Roisin' to give Show Racism the Red Card its full backing.



The event was jointly hosted by Cobh Ramblers FC, Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce and the Irish Naval service. Also present were representatives of NASC- Irish Immigrant Support Centre, 'My Cork' Polish Association, the Gardai, Navy and local schools.











The full Cobh Ramblers squad showed up to mingle and chat with supporters. The Great Island fiddlers provided some fantastic tunes to the 100 plus present. Pupils from every school on Cobh Island attended.

The event was opened by Cobh Ramblers FC Club Promotions Officer Paul Reidy. Mayor of Cobh Paddy Whitty gave the opening Speech while Joe Mc Coittir of Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce spoke about why they were supporting the project.

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Bohemians FC school visits

Bohs Roadshow for schools is in full swing. The club promotion officer has visited a host of schools local to the club bring players and the message of Show Racism the Red Card.


The Bohs Roadshow for schools is once again in full swing. Since the start of term, Bohs have visited a whole host of schools, including St Peter’s NS (Phibsborough), Hartstown Community College (Blanchardstown), Christ the King Boys NS (Cabra), Mary Mother of Hope (Clonee) and St Philip the Apostle (Blanchardstown).

So far, the visits have been really well received and the Show Racism the Red Card programme is proving very popular with both teachers and students.

These visits not only give Bohemians the opportunity to introduce kids to the club and its players, but the anti-racism presentations allow the club to play an important and meaningful role in the community.













Pictured: Bohs players Dean Pooly and Fergal Harkin

Show Racism the Red Card aims to educate children about the issues of racism and show them the importance and benefits of having a multicultural society. We are delighted to be involved in such an exciting and progressive project.

Next up: Colaiste Eoin (Finglas) and Swords Educate Together.

To arrange a visit to your school, please contact Dave Russell at dave@bohemians.ie or by telephone at (01) 868 0923 www.bohemians.ie

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Galway United make anti-racism crystal clear

The Best Practice in Promoting Integration Award

A Galway crystal trophy is the prize on offer to the District League club that delivers Best Practice in Promoting Integration. The award scheme was launched last Friday night with some high profile on pitch activity.

Nearly 3,000 attended Friday's game in which Galway United prevailed over Longford Town. Before the match the two teams lined out for a PA announcement about the Best Practice Award Scheme in Promoting Integration. The children in front of the players are from each of the Galway District League clubs participating in the scheme. They are wearing Show Racism the Red Card t-shirts.

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