AusLeisure

Football Australia has confirmed its support for the Australian Government’s humanitarian response to Afghanistan and called for the consideration of increasing the country’s refugee intake beyond the initial 3,000 places previously announced.

Football Australia supports a strong special humanitarian intake from Afghanistan and is committed to using the power of football to help newly arrived Afghans to settle into their new life in Australia.

Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson stated yesterday “football is the first love of Afghanistan, and as Australia’s largest club-based participation team sport, the game of football is uniquely placed to help our newest Australians re-establish a sense of community and to support families to rebuild their lives here.

“As a football nation at the forefront of the women’s game globally, we pay tribute to the Afghani women who broke new ground in building the women’s game and we stand ready to support them as they build their new lives in Australia.”

Football Australia has pledged that it will work with the Australian Government, Afghani community leaders, settlement agencies and our State/Territory Member Federations to explore how the game can be made accessible to Afghani refugees either as players, coaches or referees, and how they may be connected to the 2,500 grassroots clubs around the country to be part of our growing football community.

Johnson added “the football family in Australia welcomes the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s comments that this intake represents a floor, not a ceiling, and we encourage the Australian Government to consider further increasing the Afghan intake in the weeks and months ahead.”

Image: Young cricketers in Afghanistan prior to the recent change of government.

Related Articles

23rd August 2021 - Commonwealth Bank backs Football Australia in partnership to elevate women’s game

30th July 2021 - Football Australia’s domestic match calendar another step towards national second division

23rd July 2021 - CALD Academy refugee swimming and employment program secures Zest award

19th July 2021 - ICC welcomes Mongolia and Tajikistan as new Members

23rd February 2021 - Football Australia reveals legacy plan to capitalise on hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 to Government

9th January 2021 - Land set aside for new Afghanistan cricket stadium

7th September 2020 - Conservationists alert UNESCO of Australian Government’s move to weaken legal protection for heritage sites

30th December 2019 - Darebin City Council offers refugees and asylum seekers free access to leisure services

13th October 2019 - Iranian women attend Tehran football international for first time in decades

5th July 2019 - F45 to open studios in Afghanistan and Iraq

3rd June 2019 - Belgravia Leisure awarded for Refugees Breaking Down Cultural Barriers Program

5th July 2018 - UNESCO adds 18 sites to World Heritage list

29th October 2016 - Olympic stadiums to be recognised as UNESCO world heritage buildings?

6th April 2016 - Celebrating the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

26th March 2016 - Suicide bomber kills 41 at Iraqi stadium

4th April 2014 - World to celebrate first ever International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

22nd October 2013 - Women barred from Afghanistan’s first waterpark

23rd October 2009 - China Highlights Sport’s role in promoting world peace and development

1st June 2009 - Afghans Get First National Park

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.