The DIALECT project

The project’s main activities are: conducting interviews and focus groups with migrant and non-migrant adolescents, civil servants, CSO staff and parents; training sport professionals, youth leaders and civil servants on the football3 methodology; creating and training ethnically and gender mixed football teams; organising local matches and international tournaments as well as awareness raising activities for adolescents’ parents. The project adopts the football3 methodology that promotes fair play, equality and teamwork through football.

According to the 2019 FRA’s Fundamental Rights Report, racist harassment and violence is common in the EU but remains largely invisible in official statistics. Moreover, only 15 out of the 28 EU Member States have dedicated action plans and strategies to combat racism and ethnic discrimination. Populist groups and parties have a pivotal role in promoting sentiments of intolerance particularly among young people. Despite the fact that youth interest and participation in politics appear to be low, evidence suggests that they are attracted by populist groups and parties (Heiss, 2017; Krasteva, 2016). According to the 2016 EU Recommendations for the prevention of radicalization leading to extremism, sport interventions can help to reach young people, promote group belonging and a common sense of identity. This is based on the recognition that football communities have historically provided the opportunity for the construction of collective identities (Zaimakis, 2016).