No Discrimination campaign incorporated into FIFA Football for Schools as launch takes place in FIFA World Cup 2030™ co-host nation
Fifty-two teachers from across Morocco attend a capacity building course in the capital, Rabat
Over 300 children participate in launch event, total of 3000 schools in north African country to benefit from programme
FIFA’s No Discrimination campaign was incorporated into the FIFA Football for Schools programme for the very first time as the initiative kicked off in FIFA World Cup 2030™ co-host nation Morocco.
Launched at the FIFA World Cup 2022™, No Discrimination is an awareness, action and education campaign that aims to rid the football world of discrimination in any and every form.
It has been an integral part of every FIFA tournament since the global showpiece in Qatar three years ago, and it is also now one of the core themes of FIFA Football for Schools with the aim of raising awareness of the issue among youngsters to ensure the beautiful game is safe and welcoming for all.
“It was critical that we included a session on anti-racism and anti-discrimination in the Football for Schools programme and I was delighted to deliver that in Morocco,” said Gerd Dembowski, FIFA Head of Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination ad interim, who highlighted the boost to FIFA Football for Schools from the unequivocal stance taken by the FIFA Congress last year.
“Thanks to the Global Stand against Racism embraced by all 211 member associations at the FIFA Congress 2024, this tool will support teachers and coaches to prepare children to become allies and avoid racism as future players and fans. These children are our future and it is imperative that No Discrimination forms a part of their education on and off the pitch."
FIFA Football for Schools has already been launched in 130 FIFA Member Associations around the world. By integrating with the local education system, it gives schoolchildren the opportunity to play football and learn crucial skills such as teamwork, self-discipline and respect, while also developing an understanding of personal hygiene and nutrition.
In addition to a USD 50,000 grant to facilitate the Moroccan Football Association’s (FRMF) implementation of the programme, FIFA has also contributed 31,400 size 4 adidas footballs for Moroccan girls and boys to develop their on-pitch skills as a total of 3,000 schools across the country will eventually be involved.
The launch event, which was attended by Fouzi Lekjaa, a FIFA Council member and President of the Moroccan Football Association, FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov, and Gelson Fernandes, FIFA Director of Member Associations Africa, was one of the biggest in FIFA Football for Schools history, with some 300 schoolchildren participating and playing football with Moroccan legends such as Noureddine Naybet and Yossouf Hadji.
Fifty-two physical education teachers representing all 12 regions of Morocco attended the three-day capacity building course, which included the newly introduced anti-discrimination module, at the Mohammed VI Football Complex.
Football for Schools launch in Rabat, Morocco
They will pass on the knowledge accrued to counterparts within each of their sectors, developing a network of coaches who will take FIFA Football for Schools sessions themselves.
They can also lean on the free FIFA Football for Schools app and an online learning platform to help reinforce the initiative’s themes and ideas to tens of thousands of Moroccan schoolchildren.
“Its goal is to develop everyday life skills. We needed a syllabus. It’s the first time that a syllabus has been based both on theory and on practice, and this programme provides exactly that,” said El Ghalia Fandgma, a sports teacher at l'AREF Layoune-Sakia EL Hamra, of the FIFA Football for Schools programme.
“When it comes to the students we are working with, it’ll help us get the idea through to them, and they’ll benefit from the services that we’ll be providing.”