Last night, football fans in Bosnia and Herzegovina witnessed something greater than just a game during the Sarajevo match between football clubs Željezničar and Borac. Just before the start, the players took to the pitch with a clear message: “We stand against hate and violence in sport towards anyone.”
This symbolic act united players, clubs, institutions, and supporters in a common stance against hate speech and violence in sport. It also highlighted football’s unique power to bring together people from different communities, with all their diversity, and to inspire positive change both on and off the field.
The initiative, organised as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe campaign “Block Hate. Share Love. 2.0!”, harnessed the popularity of football to promote tolerance, inclusion, equality, and solidarity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In addition to the FC Željezničar, the action was supported by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Football Association of BiH, and the FC Borac, with the backing of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
“I am truly pleased that last night, before the match started, we saw a message against hate and violence sent by the players of Željezničar and Borac. Their message reminds us that sport is not just a game, but also about respect, fairplay, and the positive example these top athletes set for their fans and society as a whole. We all share the same responsibility to use sport for good and to prevent its misuse in spreading hatred or intolerance, whether on the field, in the stands, or at home, and to clearly say — yes to respect and fair play, and no to hatred”, said Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications Department and Spokesperson for the European Union in BiH.
“As many already know, FC Željezničar regularly takes part in numerous socially responsible actions, and we gladly accepted the invitation to take part in this important campaign. As the most popular club in BiH, we also have a special responsibility to lead by example in promoting positive values and do our outmost to make stadiums arenas of noble competition, free of hate and intolerance,” stressed Mr Jusuf Tanović, Acting Director of FC Željezničar.
The initiative is part of a broader programme by the European Union and the Council of Europe named Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey, through the project Towards an Equal, Inclusive and Tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Europe project Combating Discrimination, Hate and Racism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
