A pilot event, developed as part of the European Project ‘Fans Matter!’ and dedicated to increased fan involvement in the management of football clubs: took place today at the Coverciano Auditorium. The “Community Leadership Workshop” involved representatives for the Lega Pro and National Amateur League as well as fan associations from SinC, with the objective of creating better relationships between clubs and their communities, aiming to boost the active and constructive involvements of fans and of entire communities. 

Organised by the FIGC in collaboration with the Supporters in Campo (SinC) association, the workshop was attended by Barbara Moschini, EU Projects Senior Expert FIGC; Alessandra Rotunno, SLO coordinator of the FIGC; the president and ex-president of SinC, Stefano Pagnozzi and Diego Riva, and SinC board member, Fabio Guarini.

“A constructive and positive meet because it helps to highlight the need for community, which we really need”, stated Renzo Ulivieri, Director of the Coaches’ School and President of the AIAC, as he opened proceedings in his capacity as ‘host’. 

Among the speeches that occurred on this intense day at the Centro Tecnico Federale - during which invited guests had the chance to visit the Museo del Calcio at Coverciano - was that of Philip Joe Sassoon, player and manager of St. Ambroeus FC,  the first Italian side playing in a federal league to welcome refugees and asylum seekers. Just two days ago on December 7, he received the Ambrogino d’Oro from the Comune di Milano. 

Speaking on the theme of social equality, Daniele Farsetti - president of Orgoglio Amaranto - highlighted the initiatives supporting the creation of the new anti-violence centre ‘Pronto Donna’ in Arezzo, as well as the fundraising for a scholarship aimed at supporting the sports activities of unaccompanied minors. 

In terms of ‘Calcio per tutti’, Simone Bernini, spokesperson for Millenovecentoquattro (Siena), spoke of the initiatives brought forward by the association in support of Aps Le Bollicine, who work on sporting activities for people with disabilities. 

For the ‘Tutela and growth of young people’, Umberto Carboni - from the Fondazione SEF Torres 1903 - explained the project titled ‘Sport, Educazione e Formazione’ which promotes meetings on respect and the values of sport, aimed at Under 17 and Under 15 athletes from the Sassari-based club, involving professionals from the field of sport and health.

The SinC association was involved as a stakeholder in the project - co-funded by the EU and the Council of Europe - ‘Combating Hate Speech in Sport’, focused on counter hate speech. 

Finally, some environmental sustainability issues were addressed, discussing new ideas to combat food waste on matchdays, taking inspiration from initiatives in England; possible actions to transform sports facilities as a hub for Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER), and initiatives to reduce the environmental impact caused by travel for matches.