TEENAGERS from across Lanarkshire have teamed up with the police and anti-sectarian campaigners for a football competition with a difference.
Talented footballers from 10 schools will today compete for the Kiss Bigotry Goodbye Cup at Ravenscraig Sports Centre in an event organised by Police Scotland and supported by North Lanarkshire Leisure and the charity Nil by Mouth.
The competition will give some of Lanarkshire’s most promising young footballers a chance to showcase their skills and they will take part in educational workshops to raise awareness of sectarianism, warn of the dangers of posting online abuse and deepen their understanding of different religious cultures and traditions.
The Kiss Bigotry Goodbye campaign was launched by leading charity Nil by Mouth in 2015 and since then thousands of people have taken part in events including quiz nights, school sports activities, penalty kick competitions and online campaigns encouraging fans to celebrate the positive side of Scottish football.
Nil by Mouth campaign director Dave Scott said: “This event is hugely significant as it shows football as a positive vehicle for change and proves the game can bring people together rather than being used as a dividing line. It’s very welcome to see Police Scotland investing time and effort in grassroots programmes.”
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