MESSINA – Once again, the “A football against racism – United with sport” tournament has achieved considerable success in terms of participation. This event, now in its eighth edition, is organized by the University of Messina in collaboration with the Unime Single Guarantee Committee and the UniMe Ssd. It was a beautiful example of integration and social cohesion, which through sport aims to highlight and promote fundamental values such as respect for the opponent and the rules, fair play and equality between all individuals. The event, therefore, represents a beautiful advertisement and a manifesto against all forms of discrimination for the University of Messina. It embodies the values of inclusiveness, respect and equality, showing the institution’s commitment to promoting a more just and open society. This event not only celebrates diversity, but also strongly reiterates the condemnation of all types of prejudice and disparity, demonstrating that university is a place where everyone can feel welcomed and valued for who they are.
“The theme of ‘racism and sport’ is still, unfortunately, a pressing issue – says the prof. Carlo Giannetto, creator of this initiative – The event promoted by the University of Messina aims to raise public awareness of the potential of sport as a powerful tool in the fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. The event aims to promote fundamental values such as fair play, integration, loyalty, solidarity, mutual respect and brotherhood. The goal is to create a sporting culture that not only condemns intolerance and discrimination, but which actively fosters an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. This commitment reflects the belief that sport can unite people, overcoming cultural and social barriers and building a more equal society that respects diversity.”
The story of the event
During the first day, ten teams competed in an atmosphere of enthusiasm and healthy competition. The groups were made up of university students, Erasmus students, young migrants, representatives of non-profit organizations and journalists. The participating teams were: Etoile du Sahel, Olimpus Amal, SSD UniMe, ESN – Erasmus, MAT United, Lyon d’Or, Giornalisti Messina, Olimpo UniMe, Beverly Inps and International United. The final victory of the tournament went to the MAT United team, followed by the Olimpo UniMe team, the third step of the podium went to SSD UniMe and the fourth place went to International United.
Over 200 people including players, spectators and fans participated in the football event. This large turnout demonstrates the importance of the initiative and the strong community support for the fight against racism and discrimination, highlighting how sport can be a powerful tool for unity and social inclusion. The entire event took place with the important collaboration of the Municipality of Messina, of the ACR Messina, of the AIA Messina section, of the US Acli, of the BIOS Association, of the Panathlon Club Association of Messina, of the Red Cross section of Messina, of the Multidisciplinary Center for Teaching and Learning (Ce.Mu.IA), of the ALuMnime Association and of Messina Social City, which this year contributed to the co-organization of the event.
The award ceremony was attended by Prof. Carlo Giannetto, full professor of agri-food economics and marketing, creator of the event, Dr. Silvia Bosurgi President of SSD UniMe, prof. Ludovico Magaudda Deputy Governor of Area 9 Sicily of Panathlon International, Dr. Antonino Scimone President Us Acli Messina and Dr. Santino Morabito president of the Messina Referee Section of the Italian Football Federation.
