FIFA showed its support for the LGBTQ+ Football community by actively participating in the XXV IGLFA (International Gay and Lesbian Football Association) World Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
FIFA provided equipment, ranging from match balls and substitutes’ bibs to captains’ armbands and referees’ yellow and red cards, and delivered a welcome speech to the teams as part of its support for the ‘event.
Pavel Klymenko, FIFA’s adviser on diversity and anti-discrimination, was present at the tournament, which included 36 men’s and women’s 11-a-side and 7-a-side football teams. It was supported for the first time by the Federation Argentine Football Association (AFA) and organized by Argentina’s first sexually diverse football team, Los Dogos.
“As President and Founder of the IGLFA, I would like to thank FIFA, AFA and Los Dogos for supporting and welcoming teams from around the world who have traveled here as ambassadors of LGBTQ+ sport and have shared the hospitality and culture of the Argentine people during the XXV IGLFA World Championship,” said John Natale.
“This tournament has brought about many social changes in Argentina. We wanted to organize it here to raise awareness about discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in football in particular,” added Claudio Blanco, coordinator of Los Dogos and organizer of the tournament, who took place from November 3 to 9 in the Argentine capital. “We hope that progress will continue to be made in our country through continued work with the AFA.”
A collaboration with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the No Discrimination campaign aims to raise awareness and educate people with the ultimate aim of ending discrimination in football. FIFA’s message was visible during matches played at the AFA’s Lionel Andrés Messi training complex and the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, home of local club Argentinos Juniors.
In addition to this support, FIFA has also signed an initial funding agreement with the IGLFA. Running from October 2024 to December 2026, this agreement reinforces FIFA’s commitment to the tournament and the LGBTQ+ football community.
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