Kick It Out receive Annual Just A Ball Game? Award

Friday 10 Nov 2017
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Kick It Out were presented with the Challenging HBT Bullying Award from Just A Ball Game? (JBG?), as the LGBT+ inclusion organisation celebrated its seventh birthday.

The award is given to organisations for their good practices and partner work with JBG? over a 12-month period, helping to raise awareness around LGBT+ inclusion and visibility while also challenging homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) behaviour and bullying.

This year JBG? partnered with Kick It Out and the UK Home Office to produce a document designed to educate stewards on HBT language and behaviour in football stadiums, in an effort to better tackle the issue. Now the HBT resource has been given to all 92 professional clubs in England to collectively tackle HBT abuse in football.

Roisin Wood, CEO of Kick It Out, said this on receiving the award: “We are absolutely honoured. On behalf of Kick It Out I want to say a big thank you, it’s been great working with JBG? this year as we have for a number of years..”

Lindsay England, Founder of Just A Ball Game, commented on the significance of partnering with Kick It Out on the HBT resource: “It’s actually the first time in the history of football that match day staff and stewarding people have been given some education around LGBT inclusion.

“It’s a massive inclusion thing for us, we do the work that we do, we fight the bigotry in the game, and in society as a whole, anything that’s around any sexism, any racism, anything else, we will call it out, just as much as will tackle the homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

“We’re a really inclusive organisation and we just want to look and use football as a tool to help educate.”

You can watch the video here.

 

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"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman

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