FA Launches New Respect Initiative
The Football Association has created a new approach to stamp out bad behaviour from fans and players by launching its own football club Respect FC.
A website, www.RespectFootballClub.com, has been set up to unite fans to show respect when playing or watching the game at all levels.
Fans can join up at the site to become a member of Respect FC and for every one person that joins – the FA has pledged to put £1 back into the Respect initiative within grassroots football – up to the value of £50,000.
Members of the Club will be able to vote online to say how this money is used at the end of the 2010 / 2011 season.
Appointing comedian and avid Bristol City fan Mark Watson as club chairman, the Respect FC has been founded through concern from both the top level of the game and the grassroots community around abuse towards referees and poor sideline behaviour.?
In a bid to get fans behind the initiative the FA has launched an online viral that features former Liverpool captain Neil Ruddock, Portsmouth legend Steve Claridge and Sky Sports commentator Chris Kamara. ?Click here to see the viral on Sport Industry TV.
Alex Horne, FA General Secretary said of the initiative: ‘Football fans from all clubs and all leagues have a collective responsibility to let others know that they will not stand for this behaviour from the grassroots of the game up to the international stage. That’s why we’re asking everyone, to ask everyone, to join the club and together win the match against bad behaviour.’
Latest research from the FA has shown that 40% of players, coaches and referees think the Respect programme has improved their experience of the game.
The majority of participants surveyed were also aware of the Respect programmes key objectives with 68% recognising that Respect aims to create a safe and enjoyable environment for the game.
