One Game, One Community

Kick It Out has teamed with Football Against Racism in Europe to kick off the 'One Game, One Community' Weeks of Action, which launch this evening in London.

The Weeks of Action campaign's intention is to promote equality and community engagement in the sport. With participants ranging from professional clubs to community street soccer organisations - as demonstrated by a string of press releases from the Football Foundation this morning - the campaign has a huge programme of events which begin with a panel debate at Football Association headquarters at Soho Square this evening entitled 'Homophobia in football: the last taboo?'.

The panel includes gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and BBC broadcaster Bob Ballard. You can see what I think is Bob's quite magnificently shit website here. Get it sorted, fella.

It seems a logical place to begin this lengthy campaign. Call me naive, but football (in England at least) has become a much safer and welcoming place for players and supporters from ethnic minorities. But homophobia is still regarded as a problem. Graeme Le Saux, among others, often opine that we're a long way off having openly gay footballers.

The worrying possibilities are obvious. We football fans collectively are hardly a forgiving bunch, and any perceived weakness in the opposition is preyed upon without a second thought. I dare say there's a few who aren't quite in tune with the fact that homosexuality is here, it's real and it's just the way it is. It's probably not much different in the testosterone-driven unenlightened world of the dressing room. It should be a fascinating debate.

Throughout the Weeks of Action, several professional matches will give over some attention to the campaign, and plenty of events are due to take place between today and October 28th.

If nothing else, it's ambitious. In the first night, it tackles homophobia and racism (in a student event at Bromley College), and goes on to address ladies' football, kids' community football, Kickz, amateur football, unity, disabilities and football, coaching, crime, minority involvement and diversity.

Great stuff. Please support the campaign if you get a chance.