Also in 2022, Club Brugge continues to give the red card to racism

On the eve of the resumption of the soccer season, Club Brugge and its Foundation want to reiterate that it will continue to fight against discrimination in soccer in the New Year. Club gave and is giving racism the red card.

Society has been undergoing strong polarization in recent years anyway, with different groups sharply opposing each other. The growing number of incidents of discrimination and racism in society are tangible examples of this. Soccer as the popular sport No. 1 is not spared as a mirror, or even magnifying glass of society.

Together with its Foundation and various stakeholders, Club Brugge has been working for years on various actions and campaigns against discrimination and racism. Starting at home and the multicultural composition of our locker room with 14 different nationalities. Club NXT is also an example of how people from different backgrounds can live together in a good and inspiring way. Diversity is an added value for us and we want to radiate that. Together we form one team and together we pursue one goal on and off the field: to be the best. Hand in hand comrades.

As a soccer organization that reaches thousands of fans every day and inspires young people, Club Brugge is also committed to a series of targeted actions aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination from soccer and - literally and figuratively - showing the red card to racism. We place a strong emphasis on prevention, but also take firm and vigorous action in case of possible incidents.

School project for secondary education

Since the launch of the schools project 'Give Racism The Red Card' in October 2020, Club Brugge Foundation has already reached 3,000 pupils from the first grade of secondary education - together accounting for 147 classes from 27 schools across Flanders - who have set to work with a detailed curriculum from our Foundation.

The detailed lessons deal with themes such as diversity as an asset, the meaning of religion and symbols, recognizing differences and similarities in cultures, fighting LGBTQ+ and homophobia. With this schools project, we support schools and teachers to shape their students of the first grade of secondary education, who are still very vulnerable to external influences.

Also in 2022, Club Brugge Foundation will continue the commitment around this schools project. Secondary schools interested in this curriculum and wanting more information about it can visit this website: www.clubbrugge.be/nl/deelnemen-als-school

Youth football clubs and amateur teams as ambassadors

Unfortunately, racism and discrimination also still occurs in youth and amateur soccer. We therefore call on as many soccer clubs as possible to become ambassadors of our 'Give Racism The Red Card' campaign by promoting this message together.

Sign up with your soccer club and make it known that racism and discrimination have no place at your soccer club. More information www.clubbrugge.be/nl/deelnemen-als-amateurclub

In collaboration with Voetbal Vlaanderen, Club Brugge has committed to organize a workshop 'Discrimination and racism in soccer' on Tuesday March 8 at the Jan Breydel Stadium. During this workshop, soccer clubs that register for this event will be given tools to recognize discrimination, how to deal with discrimination and racism and how to react as an individual and club employee, trainer, parent, supporter or player. More info and registration can be found at: www.voetbalvlaanderen.be/trainer/bijscholingen/discriminatie-en-racisme

Continued dialogue with fans, stakeholders and experts

Despite the various actions in recent years, Club was not spared a few incidents with discriminatory and racist reverberations. The broad Club family wants to counter this and does not accept that the image of Club and being a 'Club supporter' is damaged by this. Club therefore continues to engage in constructive dialogue with its fans, representatives of fan groups and the Supporters' Federation in order to take the necessary actions together against discriminatory speech cries or other statements that hurt people.

In close consultation and cooperation with the relevant services, Club continues to assume its responsibilities and act appropriately in the event of possible incidents. For years Club has been committed to the fight against racism and does not hesitate to issue civil exclusions and stadium bans as a soccer organization.

Ultimately, we want Fort Jan Breydel to be a place where everyone feels at home and discrimination has no place.