Sunderland's Reinildo Mandava & Premier League stars give their backing to a new No Room For Racism film
Premier League players have given their backing to a new No Room For Racism film.
Sunderland star Reinildo Mandava & Premier League players have given their backing to a new No Room For Racism film.
The Premier League and its clubs are coming together this October to support No Room For Racism. This includes players from all 20 clubs featuring in a new film which celebrates football's diversity and highlights the collective responsibility to challenge discrimination, wherever it occurs.
Launching ahead of two dedicated No Room For Racism match rounds between 17 and 25 October, the video features players including Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, Nottingham Forest forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, Manchester City defender Ruben Dias and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma. The film showcases the diversity of the League while highlighting the impact racism continues to have on players, families and communities.
Join the Echo’s WhatsApp SAFC Channel for the latest news, team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join.
Players have also contributed to No Room For Racism education resources, which are delivered through Premier League Primary Stars. The resources, which are available to more than 19,000 primary schools across England and Wales, teach children about the power of diversity and how everyone can learn from people from different backgrounds.
Virgil van Dijk said: “It means a lot to me to represent my community on and off the pitch. I'm proud of being part Surinamese, part Dutch and it’s a good feeling to always represent what you stand for. I think it's important for young people to see role models who look like them, to see that they can achieve anything. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do or how you look.”
No Room For Racism launched in 2019, encouraging supporters to challenge and report discriminatory abuse, wherever they encounter it. Two years later, the League established the No Room For Racism Action Plan, setting out a series of commitments and targets designed to combat discrimination, enhance pathways into football for under-represented groups, support communities through education, and embed equality across club operations.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, but sadly we still see cases of players and others within football facing abhorrent abuse. Not only will we continue to support those who are subjected to this, we will work with clubs and authorities to try and bring offenders to justice and do everything we can to eradicate racism.”
October’s No Room For Racism fixtures fall within the UK’s Black History Month, the theme of which is ‘Honouring Our Communities’. Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi, who is now the club’s Head of Corporate Affairs, sits on the Premier League’s Black Participants Advisory Group. The panel of former players and managers helped create the No Room For Racism Action Plan in 2021 and continues to advise the League on matters relating to race and ethnicity.
Ameobi said: “Football has an incredible ability to bring people together and I know how committed the Premier League is to ensuring there is improved diversity in all areas of the game through its No Room For Racism Action Plan.
“There is always more to do, particularly in the fight against discrimination. The League and clubs will continue working together to make a firm stand against racism, while developing inclusivity within the workplace and creating more opportunities for people from all backgrounds.”
You can find out more about No Room For Racism and how to challenge and report racist abuse at premierleague.com/noroomforracism.
The Echo’s Europa League coverage is sponsored by Amari Plastics. Covering all of North East England and Cumbria, Amari Plastics launched in 1975 and has built a reputation as the region's leading plastic distributor. During this time, we’ve established strong working relationships with businesses in three main market sectors: sign, display & large format printing, building & construction and industrial & engineering.