Show Racism the Red Card poster campaign launched
April 21st, 2009
League of Ireland clubs will distribute 60,000 anti-racism posters to schools nationwide, following the launch of the 2009 Show Racism the Red Card poster campaign and programme of work within Dun Laoghaire Rathown Council area. The Show Racism the Red Card poster campaign was officially launched today [April 21st], with some of the League of Ireland’s top players gathering in UCD to answer questions from schoolchildren around the issue of multiculturalism in sport. They were in the presence of Dun Laoghaire Caothaoirleach Cllr Tom Joyce who said: ‘Our council is committed to anti-racism and promoting integration. Our committment is demonstrated by the support for the Festival of World Cultures which has been running for a number of years. It is also demonstrated by the programme we are launching today and other work of the council supported by the Office of the Minister for Integration’.League of Ireland stars Owen Heary, Joseph Ndo and Eamon Zayed, all of whom feature in the Show Racism the Red Card dvd, attended the launch of the poster campaign in UCD, along with children from eight schools. The Show Racism the Red Card posters, which are supported by Newstalk, display squad photographs with players holding Show Racism the Red Card signs. The 60,000 posters have been distributed among 12 League of Ireland clubs and will be brought to schools nationwide as part of the FAI’s Club Promotion Officer programme.Under the Club Promotion Officer programme, League of Ireland clubs visit 30 schools in their locality promoting a wide range of social messages, including healthy eating, anti-racism and the importance of milk in a healthy diet.Garrett Mullan, coordinator of the Show Racism the Red Card programme, said that he was delighted to launch the 2009 poster campaign:”The poster campaign has worked very well in previous years and we are delighted to once again have the co-operation of League of Ireland clubs in promoting the important message that racism can never be tolerated in sport or in society”. Fran Gavin, Director of the League of Ireland, welcomed the 2009 poster campaign: “I am delighted that League of Ireland clubs are once again to the fore of this very important campaign. Last season over 50 players from 20 different countries played League of Ireland football. Through our Club Promotion Officer programme, our clubs can bring this message to school children all over Ireland.”