GENEVA (AP) 鈥 European soccer body UEFA went to the United Nations on Tuesday pledging to do more to promote human rights and protect women from abuse in the sport.
At Champions League games next week, messages will be broadcast on television and social media for the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said at a sports conference in the UN鈥檚 European headquarters.
Theodoridis committed UEFA to 鈥渟trengthen our fight against discriminations in all their forms鈥 and 鈥渁dmitting your mistakes when you make them.鈥
鈥淭his shows leading by example,鈥 he said, citing UEFA ordering a security review of the it organized in Paris that put Liverpool and Real Madrid fans at risk.
鈥淚t was a near-miss, I have to say,鈥 Theodoridis acknowledged. UEFA now consults more closely with the fan group Football Supporters Europe ahead of major games.
The event Tuesday was hosted by the Geneva-based Centre for Sport & Human Rights, UEFA鈥檚 risk adviser for the 2024 European Championship in men鈥檚 soccer which it wants to be inclusive and tackle discrimination.
鈥淗uman rights should be inherent in everything we do,鈥 Theodoridis said, 鈥渋n how we treat people and how we listen to them and how do we deliver on our mission in a way that respects and upholds the fundamental dignity of all people.鈥
UEFA made a with German organizers of Euro 2024 that included a promise that all fans can 鈥渆xercise their freedom of speech during the tournament.鈥
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in support of the LGBTQ community became a cultural flashpoint in the conservative emirate.
Theodoridis said the commitment of Euro 2024 organizers to deliver an inclusive tournament would be shared at all levels including thousands of volunteers.
鈥淲e will also work to make sure that the rapid growth in the women鈥檚 game is joined by greater efforts to prevent harassment, abuse and violence against women,鈥 he told delegates at the UN.
In September, as both president of the Spanish soccer federation and a vice president of UEFA three weeks after he forcibly kissed national-team player Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the Women鈥檚 World Cup trophy presentation. World soccer body from soccer for three years.
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