Courtesy: UEFA.com

Romani compete in Split

Friday 26 October 2007

UEFA joined the Croatian Football Federation in giving its support to a Futsal world championship contested by players from the Romani people.

Inaugural tournament
The inaugural tournament of its kind featured eight teams - Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, India and Slovenia - and was staged in Split. The Croatian national association supported the event as part of its anti-racism activities under the UEFA Unite Against Racism project. Bosnia-Herzegovina won the final in a penalty shoot-out yesterday after a 1-1 draw against a strong Hungarian team, and the trophies were handed out by the Indian ambassador to Croatia.

First step
The Romani people are an ethnic group who live in communities in many areas of the world. "This Futsal event was a first step for a better integration of the Roma community into institutionalised football," said UEFA's assistance programmes manager Patrick Gasser, who represented UEFA at the event in Split.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com