Visit League of Ireland TV to watch the 17 minute Show Racism the Red Card DVD featuring League of Ireland and Irish International Stars. 

League of Ireland Intercultural Programme

Through the network of Club Promotion Officers (CPOs), the League of Ireland is heavily involved in promoting interculturalism and anti-racism.

The CPOs work closely with organisations such as Show Racism the Red Card in order to promote positive messages in schools throughout Ireland. The FAI believe that football, as the world's game, is the ideal vehicle to deliver messages of social inclusion.

The FAI established the Intercultural Football Good Practice Awards in 2008, which were designed to recognise achievement in bringing positive messages of interculturalism to school-children. Funded by the Department of Justice under the National Action Plan Against Racism, the awards honoured the clubs that had achieved excellence in the field of interculturalism.

Dundalk claimed top prize, with the Lilywhites named 2008 Intercultural Club of the Year. Cobh Ramblers took second spot, with St. Patrick's Athletic and Monaghan United honoured in the Intercultural Event of the Year category.

Pictured here are the CPOs of the four clubs - Paul Johnston (Dundalk), Julie-Ann Sherlock (Monaghan United), Declan White (St. Patrick's Athletic) and Paul Reidy (Cobh Ramblers) - at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown receiving their awards.

Dundalk were awarded €3,000, Cobh Ramblers received €2,000, while St. Patrick's Athletic and Monaghan United both received €1,000 each.

Dundalk held a series of intercultural events throughout the 2008 League of Ireland season, including a highly successful Africa Day at Oriel Park last May. Over 600 people from around the world attended the event, which celebrated the different cultures present in the town.

Cobh Ramblers undertook a series of anti-racism events during the season, including the hugely popular World Refugee Day community festival at St. Colman’s Park last June.

St. Patrick’s Athletic and Monaghan United were both rewarded for individual events. The Saints’ efforts in promoting the club to the Polish community during the visit of Wisla Krakow were acknowledged, while the success of Monaghan United’s World Cup Tournament, attended by 150 people of various nationalities, was also singled out for praise.