BRADFORD CITY LGBT+ FAN GROUP JOIN EUROPE WIDE ORGANISATION

MEDIA RELEASE : BRADFORD CITY LGBT+ FAN GROUP JOIN EUROPE WIDE ORGANISATION

This week Bradford City LGBT+ fan group celebrated its second anniversary and became the first UK LGBT+ fan group to be inducted into the Queer Football Fan club (QFF) network at their annual conference in Dortmund, Germany.

Over 80 people attended representing fan groups from Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and England.

QFF are an umbrella organisation representing LGBT+ fan groups from across Europe with the key aim being to aid inclusion in football and tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia where it exists in the game.

Lindsay England (Just A Ball Game?) and Bradford Councillor Richard Dunbar as founding members of the Bradford City LGBT+ fan group presented to the conference about the work that has been done over the past 2 years and how they intend to work more closely with Bradford City to ensure LGBT+ fans are truly apart of the Bantams family.

Lindsay England said:

“Bradford City LGBT+ fan group are very honoured to become the first UK fan club to be inducted into the QFF. We look forward to working in partnership with other fan groups across Europe to ensure LGBT+ fans are included in all aspects of the game”

Councillor Richard Dunbar said:

“This is great news for Bradford and is recognition of the good work that has gone on to make LGBT+ fans feel truly included at Valley Parade. Representatives from across Europe are impressed by Bradford City’s work on being a truly inclusive club and we look forward to working more closely on them on this agenda”

If you are interesting in being involved in the Bradford City LGBT+ fan group you can email bradfordcitylgbtfans@gmail.com for more information.

You can also follow the group on Twitter: @BfdCityLGBT

CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION AND FAN GROUP CALL ON FIFA TO TAKE ACTION.

CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION AND FAN GROUP CALL ON FIFA TO TAKE ACTION.   

Campaign organisation JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) and BRADFORD CITY LGBT+ Fan Group call on FIFA to take firm and further action on the homophobic, biphobic and transphobic insults directed at players during international football matches. 

For the past two years FIFA have made it common knowledge that the very public chanting of homophobic biphobic and transphobic (HBT) abuse in the stadiums whenever Mexico play has been unacceptable, with warnings and fines handed out. What has not been made public until now are the reports of 15 other international teams fans (13 of whom are South American) who have on a number occasions seen fit to chant HBT abuse at games. Mexico have now been fined and warned by FIFA 11 times, Chile 9 and Argentina 5 times.

The report made public by FIFA on 2^nd Oct 2017 can be found here: http://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/tournament/competition/02/91/01/10/fifa_disciplinaryoverview_2018fwcqualifiers_2october2017_neutral.pdf  with the message “Following the latest meeting of the Disciplinary Committee, FIFA can today confirm the sanctions imposed for incidents that occurred during the latest round of the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup.”

Moving forward JBG? and Bradford City LGBT+ fan group would like assurances anyone participating in or involved in football in any way will be given the protection and support necessary should similar incidents occur. 

One of the founders of Bradford City LGBT+ fan group Richard Dunbar, who later this week will present at the Queer Football Fans conference in Dortmund Germany says, “As the football world’s governing body FIFA has a moral obligation to ensure that all fans feel included, and know that, should they be victims of any kind of abuse a zero tolerance and appropriate action will be taken. All the facts prove that members of an LGBT+ community are more likely to be victims of abuse and discrimination therefore it is incumbent upon FIFA to ensure they proactively engage with campaigns like JBG? and LGBT+ fan groups 

globally to ensure their needs are met and they feel included in all aspects of the game.”

A JBG?  spokesperson said, “We would like to see FIFA work in collaboration with organisations like ourselves and also LGBT+ fan groups to educate and train stadium event day staff in dealing with HBT discrimination promptly. We have already created resources for Kick It Out and the Home Office which have been in use in the English leagues by clubs and have been very well received by all. These publications and accompanying workshops alongside educating supporters on what is acceptable language could be adapted and used by all FIFA member countries FA’s as a great starting point on taking a much needed zero tolerance.”

“ JBG? also call for coordinated official  LGBT+ event days to raise awareness of LGBT+ inclusion and visibility.”

End.

Contact for further information:

Founder-Lindsay England

info@justaballgame.co.uk