FAIR PLAY - A WAY OF LIFE
Fair play - the name of the game
UEFA is the governing body on
sporting and moral issues within
European football and, as such,
has a number of fundamental re
sponsibilities. A key education duty
for the European Football Union lies
in teaching young people to love
football, and to behave in a sports
manlike manner in accordance with
the ideals of Fair Play. While an
appropriate amount of physical
effort is called for in any sporting
competition or match, violence
cannot be tolerated. Those who
equate the game of football with
violence, either inside or outside the
stadia, are not only harming them
selves; they are also causing dam
age to the sport and its loyal follow
ers. The ability to understand this
viewpoint grows with a willingness
to accept that it is correct. We must
learn to do justice to the realities of
football. The game is an expression
of creativity and the love of playing;
it reflects positive attitudes towards
life and the will to win and there is
no place for violence.
The concept of Fair Play comprises
the following basic principles, which
should be observed by players and
all others involved:-
1The Laws of the Game and the
regulations of the various com
petitions must be respected.
2. Every effort should be made to
behave in a sporting manner
towards opponents, match
officials and any other persons
involved at matches, such as
spectators, the officials of other
clubs and associations and
representatives of the media.
3. Anyone else involved at
matches should be encouraged
to behave in the manner outline
above; before, during and after
a match, irrespective of the
result of the match and the
decisions taken by the match
officials.
