JUST A BALL GAME? HONORS “BIG KICK ENERGY PODCAST” WITH 2025 AWARD.

JUST A BALL GAME?               MEDIA RELEASE- For immediate release.                                       

---

  

©   2023-2028

 

JUST A BALL GAME? HONORS “BIG KICK ENERGY PODCAST”  WITH 2025 AWARD FOR LGBT+ INCLUSION AND VISIBILITY.

Although delayed from last month JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) today announced that their 2025 Annual Award For LGBT+ Inclusion and Visibility has been presented to the BIG KICK ENERGY PODCAST, (BKE) hosted by comedians Suzi Ruffell and Maisie Adam.

The engraved ’English Rose’ award recognises the show’s sustained advocacy, visibility and positive influence in promoting LGBT+ inclusion across the women’s game.

BKE has built a devoted audience for more than 2.5 years by blending humour, insight, informed commentary, and interviews with players during in near-weekly episodes that track the growth of women’s football. They regularly highlight LGBT+ stories, challenge harmful stereotypes and elevate voices from within the community with a central thread showing support that matters both on and off the pitch.

JBG? co-chair Ste and founder Lindsay, surprised Ruffell after one of her solo shows in Nottingham, with a silver salver to mark the honour.

“Suzi and Maisie use humour and insight to open up important conversations around equality, inclusion and diversity in football,” said Ste. “Their work has helped an LGBT+ presence in the women’s game and created a safe space for fans and players to feel seen and supported.”

Ruffell clearly surprised thanked the non-profit organisation and excitedly showed others at the venue the award before posing for photos.

JBG? founder Lindsay also praised the podcast’s role and says, “Suzi and Maisie have shown how humour can be a powerful tool for change by bringing to attention real issues faced while keeping the door open for laughs. That combination is helping the sport more welcoming for everyone.”

The award is showcasing the podcast has made complex and sensitive subjects easier to approach, reaching audiences that may not otherwise engage with inclusion conversations. This recognition from JBG? underpins the importance of media that supports diversity in women’s football and across all football more broadly.

BKE had this this to say, "Massive thanks to Just A Ball Game? for this award from everyone at BKE. We love making Big Kick every week and whilst it is mostly extremely silly, taking time to discuss and highlight issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community within football will always be a priority for us. Receiving an award recognising this part of Big Kick specifically is a delight and a lovely thing."

 Just A Ball Game? has been an advocacy organisation for 15 years and is dedicated to increasing LGBT+ visibility and fostering inclusive culture within football and other sports. The award celebrates individuals and projects that demonstrate meaningful impact, creativity and sustained approaches who have partnered or worked alongside their community outreach.

 

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  

Open Letter to IOC FIFA UEFA, HOMOPHOBIA AT RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES MUST BE ADDRESSED.

                                                                                                                  info@justaballgame.co.uk

                                                                                                                                          10.08.2016.
DEAR IOC FIFA UEFA.

OPEN LETTER TO IOC FIFA UEFA, HOMOPHOBIA AT RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES MUST BE ADDRESSED.

Campaign organisation JUST A BALL GAME? (JBG?) call on IOC and FIFA to condemn the homophobic insults directed at players at RIO 2016 Olympic Games football matches and address these issues as a priority to ensure the safety of everyone including LGBT players/coaching staff and those in the stands.

JBG? believe that the very public chanting of “bicha” in the stadiums witnessed by fans and journalists is unacceptable and urges all Football Authorities globally to take a stand against this type of behaviour.

Moving forward JBG? would like assurances from UEFA that players competing in the Women’s Euro 2017 finals in the Netherlands will be given the protection and support necessary should similar incidents occur. JBG?  would also like to see UEFA  work in collaboration in the lead up to and during the tournament with organisations like ourselves and LGBT fan groups to educate stadium event day staff in dealing with homophobic discrimination promptly, alongside educating supporters on what is acceptable language and we call for official anti-discrimination event days to raise awareness of LGBT inclusion and visibility.

A spokesperson for JBG? says,” Too often it’s a given that homosexuality is fully accepted in all women’s sport and that athletes do not face any discrimination, however during the 2015 Women’s World Cup only 14 of 552 players felt comfortable to speak to the media on being OUT PROUD and KICKING.”

“In England with the popularity of the FA WSL increasing rapidly how long will it be before we have to endure the homophobic chants of the type we have seen at Rio 2016? There is therefore a need for the FA and clubs to be pro-active and nip in the bud isolated incidents of this nature.”

Lisa Durel who writes for Women’s Soccer France had this to say, “Making homophobia commonplace is disrespectful to players/ staff and also fans who identify as being LGBTQ. If we fight homophobia by banning it from the stands this creates the correct atmosphere for players and fans alike and people will gain in confidence in being themselves and women’s soccer will get what it deserves, full recognition and a safe environment to support, cheer and share the best of moments.”

To date all we have read from FIFA is spokeswoman Carolina Almiron present at USA game claiming she didn’t hear any anti-gay slur, and stating, “I don’t think it’s an issue” followed by stating FIFA would not be taking any action unless there was a ‘formal protest’ from the US.

 Yours Sincerly JUST A BALL GAME?