Borussia Dortmund was honoured with the #EqualGame-award by the UEFA on Thursday due to their long-term efforts in the fight against racism and because of the club’s clear position for human rights, refugees and asylum seekers. The award was just brought to life this year.
“Borussia Dortmund has the right to be proud of their excellent work against the far-right mindset and actions,” UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “The club delivers a clear message that racism, intolerance and discrimination have no place in football.”
Our CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke with the 2019 #EqualGame award 🏅 pic.twitter.com/PtyEk2e4KB
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) August 29, 2019
BVB Boss Hans-Joachim Watzke was quoted: “Social engagement is very important for Borussia Dortmund.” He received the award in person in Monaco on Thursday evening amid the draw for the UEFA Champions League group stages.
Borussia Verbindet
Borussia Dortmund’s “Borussia Verbindet” (Borussia Unites) campaign was launched in 2013 after an attack on BVB’s fan stewards Jens Volke and Thilo Danielsmeyer by right-wing extremists during an away trip to Shakhtar Donetsk.
It is the club’s latest campaign that is about defeating far-right sentiments and anti-semitism that sadly are still a problem within German society. The suburb Dortmund-Dorstfeld is an infamous Nazi-hub in the Ruhr Area and the club is working hard to keep fascists out of the stadium and banish them from a democratic and open society.
The club funds educational trips for fans to the World War II extermination camp Auschwitz and supports several groups that battle dangerous right-wing ideologies.
The name “Borussia Verbindet” stems from a fan song that says “Borussia unites generations, men and women, all nations[…].”
