Some tasks are purely Sisyphus work. Time and again, you start rolling the rock up the mountain, again and again you think you're just before the summit and destination before the boulder rolls relentlessly down into the valley every time.
Social engagement in sport is often one of Sisyphus' tasks. You would think by now everyone would have understood that racism and discrimination have no place in our society in general or in soccer in particular.
Nonetheless, we are regularly told otherwise. Unfortunately.
“Knock out the Bimbo.” “Kanackenverein”. “Black pearl.” “Faggot.”
Racist and/or discriminatory insults are a sad part of everyday life on many amateur sports fields — and in some cases also in large professional stadiums. Whether opponents, teammates or spectators; the creativity of the people present on the pitch to insult and discredit their fellow human beings is both impressive and terrifying.
The insults focus primarily on obvious characteristics such as skin color, origin and language.
While a certain mutual antipathy and the subjective will to express this antipathy is probably part of the nature of the contact sport soccer and is therefore excusable, ethnic characteristics, gender and sexual orientation are inexcusable sources and basis of discrimination.
We therefore decided back in 2018 to launch a campaign with which we want to set an example against racism in amateur soccer. The “slide against the right” is not only intended to draw attention to the problem, but also to make us all more aware that we can actively contribute to positive change.
The DFL and the DFB and (and also UEFA) have also been involved for many years and are positioning themselves against racism in soccer. Racism, however, is not an association problem nor is it a soccer problem. It is a society as a whole.
And that's exactly where we've been working for years: at the grassroots level.
36 Bundesliga clubs are not much. 25,000 amateur clubs, on the other hand, are a whole lot.
Since 2018, there have been numerous amateur clubs joined our campaign and actively positioned itself against racism together with us.
Our mission and commitment against racism, which began in 2018, continues in 2022.
Almost seven million people are organized in German amateur clubs, and significantly more across Germany are enthusiastic about this sport. Let's make it clear to the agitators, who still throw around words like “Bimbo” and “Kanackensau” today, that they have nothing in common with us.
Football has made incredible contributions in this area in recent years and has given many young people hope. The integration of refugees into amateur associations already helped reduce fears of contact and allowed people to connect with each other a few years ago.
Training and ninety minutes on the soccer field, in which our sport is a common language, are a good start to counteract prejudices and become a “team.” No matter in which country we were born, which language we speak and regardless of the color of our skin.
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To this end, we are now reaching out directly to young people here in Germany. Together with the TSV Munich-East and the initiative Buntkicktgut Let's organize the first “Grätsche gegen Rechts action tournament”.
With young soccer players from all over Munich, we will play soccer for a day, have fun and talk about racism together.
About our experiences — good and bad —, our responsibility and what every individual can do on and off the pitch against racism and discrimination and an inclusive, open and respectful society.
Our goal is change!
A change of thought that should help to make the wall disappear in people's minds.
We are firmly convinced that everyone athlete*in has the opportunity to positively change our society through sport.
We just need to remind ourselves once in a while of what we can achieve together.
In soccer and beyond.
Be fearless. Be focused. B42.
Experience the future of soccer training — be part of B-42
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