Researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University are investigating how football can help refugees and asylum seekers become part of their new communities.
The team from the University’s Centre for the Study of Football and its Communities will create a “toolkit” for clubs to help them work with migrants.
They will be working with teams including United Glasgow FC, who have had real success in bringing together longstanding residents with refugees and asylum seekers to create a thriving football team.
Centre Director Dr Annabel Kiernan has said that the event is “a particularly timely project in light of the rise of anti-migrant policies in a number of European countries.
Alan White, founder of United Glasgow FC, added
“It helps people to realise they have more in common than they previously thought. It’s easy for young people, especially, to be influenced by the media or family members when it comes to things like immigration and race – even when they might not have met many people from different backgrounds!”
The project has been triggered by rising support for anti-migration parties such as Greece’s Golden Dawn, who achieved unprecedented success in the recent European Elections.
The consultation will start with a round table event as part of Fare’s Football People action weeks in October.
