The Belgian team lost its 3 matches at the Unity Euro Cup in Switzerland today, but the message of inclusion and solidarity won. The one-day UEFA tournament supports the integration of refugees through Football. Latvia won the final.
The tournament, also known as the European Championship for Refugees, is jointly organized by UEFA and the UNHCR, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
16 countries took part in the Unity Euro Cup in Nyon on a pitch in Nyon next to the UEFA headquarters. Each team consisted of a 12-person mix of refugees and amateur players of different genders.
For Belgium, 9 men and 3 women participated, including 8 refugees from 4 countries: Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq and Syria. Local footballers from the hospitable community also played.
33 matches of 7 against 7 were played, there had to be at least 1 woman on the field. It is about the perception and experience of diversity and solidarity.
Voetbal Vlaanderen sent a team for Belgium, coached by Bob Peeters, the sporting director of KSK Beveren, and Wouter Blockx, the man behind Union’s social projects and coach of the Special Devils.
“Football unites millions of people around the world. It is a sport that connects young and old, regardless of the difficulties they encounter. On the playing field, differences between people fade away and football can bring new energy and self-confidence after difficult times,” explains the UEFA the format of the tournament.
“We believe very much in the power of football and hope to inspire others within the football world to connect people through football,” Peeters and Blockx say in unison.
In addition to Belgium, Armenia, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland participated.
The Belgian team in training last week.
Tweets from UEFA about the Unity Cup
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