Belgium’s football world has kicked off the 2025 edition of 'Come Together,' an initiative launched in March each year to encourage players, coaches, and supporters to combat all forms of racism and discrimination while promoting inclusion.
The initiative, first launched in 2021, involves the Royal Belgian Football Association (URBSFA), Pro League, Association of Francophone Football Clubs (ACFF) and Flemish Football association Voetbal Vlaanderen.
The group's members say they are united in strengthening all previously established measures.
To raise awareness among football enthusiasts, videos and posters have been created in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
A key component of this campaign is the 5D strategy: Distract, Delegate, Document, Dialogue, and Direct, which anyone can implement when witnessing discrimination or racism.
Statistics reveal that one in three young people feel they have experienced discrimination around football fields. The most common issues, both on and off the pitch, are racism and body shaming.
URBSFA CEO Peter Willems emphasised the campaign’s importance: “The ‘Come Together’ action plan laid the foundation, but it’s now crucial to act together," he stressed. "The time for silence is over. We must all take responsibility and create a safe and inclusive football environment.”
According to a study by Plan International, only a quarter of people dare to intervene when witnessing inappropriate behaviour.
However, there has been positive change: these inappropriate acts are increasingly being reported by members of the football community.
In fact, there has been a 34% increase in discrimination reports since the launch of the action plan, participants in the initiative say.
