Football: A weekend without a match to say stop violence against educators

This weekend of November 9 and 10, 2024, football in Occitanie will temporarily stop. In a strong and symbolic decision, the Occitanie Football League, in partnership with the Haute-Garonne Football District, has decided to suspend all regional competitions – with the exception of the Coupe Gambardella Crédit-Agricole match between Blagnac and Alès OL. This interruption aims to denounce the inappropriate behavior and increasing attacks that educators are experiencing in the field.

A call for respect for educators

Every week, the educators stand on the sidelines to supervise, encourage, and pass on their passion to the young players. Their presence is essential for the smooth running of matches and training. However, their role is increasingly complicated by hostile behavior on the part of certain parents or spectators. These acts of disrespect, whether verbal or physical, endanger not only the safety of educators, but also the future of amateur football.

For Arnaud Dalla Pria, President of the Occitanie Football League, “without educators, there is no football. » This weekend without a match is therefore a necessary break, a moment to reflect and become aware of the importance of respect towards these essential players in sport.

A moment of awareness for the entire community

Beyond the simple suspension of matches, this initiative wants to invite clubs, players, parents and the entire football community to reflect on the impact of their attitudes. Every word, every gesture has an impact, especially towards those who dedicate themselves to the well-being of young players. The message is clear: for football to continue to exist, it is essential to guarantee a respectful and caring environment for all educators.

An opportunity to raise awareness in clubs

Clubs are encouraged to use this free time to organize discussions and awareness sessions. This is the ideal opportunity to inform children and their parents about the importance of respect for educators and officials, but also to remind people of the crucial role they play in transmitting sporting values. These meetings can be an opportunity to strengthen cohesion around healthy and respectful football.

Football in danger without respect for educators

This weekend without a match is above all a cry of alarm. If inappropriate behavior continues, all of amateur football risks losing those who drive it. Educators are the pillars of every sporting event, and without them, it is the young players themselves who will be deprived of their passion.

By taking this measure, the Occitanie Football League sends a strong message: violence has no place in sport, and respect is the basis of all collective activity. May this weekend be a time of reflection for everyone, so that football can once again be a space of sharing, pleasure, and respect.

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The Occitanie league press release

Dear football families, the Occitanie Football League associated with the Haute-Garonne Football District announces a weekend without a match on November 9 and 10, 2024 to say STOP to inappropriate behavior and attacks towards educators.

Every week, these educators stand on the sidelines to guide, encourage, and teach young players, despite the difficulties and sometimes hostility they encounter. Today, these behaviors are reaching an unacceptable level. This weekend we say together that without educators, there is no football.

This decision marks a pause to allow everyone to sit down, reflect and understand that every word or gesture counts. Without respect for those who supervise and host the matches, football cannot exist. Together, let's make this weekend a moment of awareness for respectful football, for the well-being of our educators.

We have decided to interrupt all regional competitions this weekend (youth men's and women's, except the Coupe Gambardella Crédit-Agricole match: Blagnac – Alès OL.) so that everyone takes a moment to reflect on the impact of their own behaviors. Our educators are essential to the smooth running of every match and practice. When they are subjected to pressure or violence, all of football is in danger!

We invite clubs to take advantage of this break to raise awareness, discuss and inform children and their parents about the importance of respect for those who support their passion. This weekend without a match is an opportunity to recall the fundamental role of our educators and our officials, and also to recall the need to offer them a safe and caring environment.

Arnaud Dalla Pria, President of the Occitanie Football League

An online prize pool

The US Colomiers Football club would like to thank all the people & clubs for their many messages of support. Here is a Leetchi prize pool set up by the club to allow you to make a donation to give a helping hand to the family of one of its educators. Click here.