Refugee Festival Scotland 2021

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Refugee Football Tournament | Promoting Inclusion Through A Celebration of Diversity

What: Refugee Festival Scotland 2021 | Football Tournament
When: 08 August 2021, 11:00 – 16:00
Where: Toryglen Regional Football Centre, 480 Prospecthill Rd, Glasgow, G42 0BY

This event is co-organised by Glasgow Afghan United and Scottish Unity Football League who are celebrating Refugee Festival Scotland 2021 through football. This tournament will involve mixed teams of ethnic minority groups, refugees, local communities, charity practitioners, and members of the Scottish parliament.

Through this tournament, we aim to raise awareness about refugees and the continued plight of millions of people throughout the world forced to flee their homes and seek refuge and protection in Scotland. More importantly, we hope to strengthen integration by stimulating helpful conversations between newly arrived groups and those from local and established communities.

Please note more than 300 people are expected to attend this one-day football tournament, meaning all of the games start and finish on the same day. There will be 24 x 7-a-side teams, with each team allowed to register up to 10 players. The top two teams will be awarded medals and the winning team will be awarded a trophy. 

There will be FREE water, juice and fruit provided by the organisers.

Draw Results
Flyer

Press coverage:

Second chance for ‘Scotland’ this summer after Euros loss

“The beautiful game” bringing communities together

RFS Information

Tournament Rules

Tournament Layout

Registration Form (MS Word)

Registration Form (PDF)

“Whilst football supports patriotism, it also facilitates inclusion, whether that be an increase in participation by diverse groups or greater exposure to sports featuring footballers with refugee background. Through events like the refugee football tournament, we get exposed to new cultures, new ways of thinking and different abilities. Sport (not just football) reminds us that there is more that binds us together than separates us, and promotes the values and skills of teamwork, cooperation, mutual respect and acceptance. This is an amazing platform to break down barriers and build bridges between communities as it gives everyone (particularly young people) a sense of self-worth and focus and allows them to set aside cultural differences in a constructive- nonviolent way.”
Abdul Bostani
Director of Glasgow Afghan United and Scottish Unity Football League

UPDATE: Tournament Results

THE champions have been crowned after a day of fierce competition that showcased the best of Scottish sporting talent and spirit.

Each team was allocated a Euro 2020 country to play as, with the Jimmy Johnstone Academy turning out as the Netherlands, Red Road FC playing as Hungary, PAH Dreams as Germany and the Sudanese Community as Wales. The MYF team was given Scotland.

After a day of fierce football, Scoutable FC emerged as worthy winners.

Tournament organiser Abdul Bostani of the Scottish Unity Football League said: “The league is rich in talent and we knew it would be a fierce contest, but the standard of football on show surpassed our expectations yet again. Many congratulations to Scoutable FC and we’d like to thank all of our teams for taking part in what was a terrific contest, especially after a year in which much grassroots sport was curtailed by Covid. We’d also like to thank our guests, the Lord Provost and Alex Rae, and all of our sponsors.

“You can’t underestimate the power of sport to boost health and wellbeing, helping people overcome troubles and reach their potential. Quite simply, it changes lives. 

“We have real stars in this league and I would be surprised if many didn’t go on to play professionally.”

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