Show Bigotry the Red Card

Mission Statement:

Show Bigotry the Red Card is first and foremost an anti-sectarian campaign.
We aim to combat sectarian attitudes and behaviour by utilising the role model status of footballers to present an anti-sectarian message to football fans. We are intending to focus our campaign within the remits of Scottish Football and to target football fans, both on the terraces and when accessing other public spaces to watch the game.

Aims and Objectives of the Campaign:

• Raising awareness on the issue of Sectarianism
• Challenging negative attitudes and behaviours in public spaces
• Empowering people (i.e.: football fans) with knowledge in order to challenge unacceptable conducts
• Encouraging fans to support their team and celebrate their identity in a positive manner

Initial product of the Campaign:

A short film using current first team players, ex-professionals, and, crucially, football fans of all ages. The educational film will be focusing on 4 main themes:

• The personal understanding of the issue
• Experiences of it (e.g.: on the football field, in the playground, in the workplace etc.)
• The negative impacts
• Positive examples, stories and successful ways to tackle it

Ged Grebby, Chief Executive of Show Racism the Red Card, said: “After months of negotiations our campaign has signed a new agreement with the Scottish Government to broaden our remit and challenge religious intolerance in Scottish Football.    It is a reflection of the esteem in which our organisation in Scotland is held, that we have been head-hunted for this new role.   This is a real challenge for our campaign, but one that can develop our work and reputation even further.    We have appointed a manager to the post of Project Manager: religious intolerance in Scottish Football and we are now starting work on a film which will harness the high profile and role model status of professional footballers to combat sectarianism.”

Pupils and Hibernian Give Racism the Red Card

Hibernian FC united once again with Show Racism The Red Card to deliver an anti-racism educational seminar to local school children earlier this week.

Over 50 school pupils from Ormiston Primary School and Craigmount High joined Manager, John Hughes and Hibernian stars including John Rankin, Lewis Stevenson and Kurtis Byrne for the event which aims to encourage Scotland's various communities to celebrate diversity and tackle racism.

Staged for the first time at the club's Training Centre in East Lothian, the event marked the fifth major educational event to be staged by Hibernian FC in partnership with the campaign.

Talking to the packed-room of young people, Manager, John Hughes, commented: "We are all fully supportive of the work of Show Racism the Red Card. I think this type of event is fantastic for young people to attend not only meet role models in football but to learn about key values in life. There is no place in football nor in society for racism, we are all equal and should treat each other with respect."

Billy Singh, Campaign Manager of Show Racism The Red Card said: "We are delighted that Hibernian Football Club gave us the opportunity once again to speak to young people about racism. The campaign utilises the role model status of football players to deliver the anti-racist message and I'm sure the presence of the first team players and the Manger talking about racism will have a lasting impact on the young people."

The event included a screening of the Show Racism The Red Card Scotland film and a Q&A session on racism with the young attendees and the panel made up of Hibernian and the Show Racism The Red Card representatives. The anti-racist educational film was launched at Hampden Stadium earlier this year and includes interviews with Hibernian striker Abdessalam Benjelloun alongside Julie Fleeting, Thierry Henry, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs.

A Hibernian FC spokesperson, added: "The Club continues to fully support the aims and objectives of the Show Racism the Red Card campaign. Education is the key to eradicating racism in the long term and we hope that our continued support and activity will go some way towards influencing attitudes in young people in a positive way."

Source: Hibernian FC