FSR: Zoppis at the first UEFA Respect Forum

The San Marino Football Federation, represented by its FSR Officer Andrea Zoppis, took part in the first UEFA Respect Forum organised by UEFA’s Social & Environmental Sustainability Division, headed by Michele Uva, held on 28 and 29 June. The two days of conferences and in-depth sessions took place in Frankfurt at the innovative headquarters of the German Football Association (DFB), with General Secretary Heike Ullrich acting as host and drawing a line of continuity towards UEFA EURO 2024, which will be staged in Germany. Various discussion panels enabled the almost 200 participants to address issues of vital importance for the sustainable development of football and beyond, both in terms of environmental sustainability and inclusion at all levels. The stage hosted numerous high-profile speakers, including famous players known both for their achievements on the pitch and for their commitment to social causes. Among them were Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram and Morten Thorsby, who shared their experiences and described their efforts to raise awareness among team-mates and fans on major social issues, leveraging their public platforms. The event also saw the presentation of the inaugural FootbALL Awards, dedicated to the federation, league, club and player that have distinguished themselves most in sustainability activities at all levels over the past season. The awards went respectively to the Royal Belgian Football Association, the Eredivisie (Dutch football league), Arsenal and Lilian Thuram. Alongside the forum, UEFA also staged the second edition of the Unity Euro Cup, a 7-a-side football competition for national teams made up exclusively of refugees who have settled in the respective countries. The final saw Finland narrowly defeat Northern Ireland, but the result took a back seat to the tournament’s social impact on all participants, who were brought together during – and especially after – the matches through shared emotions, experiences and celebrations. During the second day of proceedings, Michele Uva announced that the Respect Forum will not be a one-off event and that a second edition will take place in 2024. By taking part in the UEFA Respect Forum, the San Marino Football Federation, one of the very first to present and publish its own Social Responsibility Strategy back in 2022, reaffirms its commitment to achieving the goals it has set itself, including through new best practices and opportunities shared during the major event held in Frankfurt.

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