Football gets behind Amnesty International's third Football Welcomes initiative

Amnesty International’s Football Welcomes initiative has attracted record-breaking support this weekend.

More than 160 clubs across the football pyramid pledged their support for the campaign, which is all about inclusion and celebrating the contribution players with refugee backgrounds have made to football.

This year's campaign saw football clubs from across England, Scotland and Wales giving away free match-tickets to refugees and people seeking asylum, and arranging player visits and stadium tours.

Leicester City were among the clubs to stage events ahead of the weekend as the club's Community Trust hosted 150 refugees and asylum seekers for a football tournament, which included teams from the Middlesbrough and Chelsea Foundations.

Others teams across the leagues sent their players out to warm up in Football Welcomes T-shirts, while others promoted the weekend's festivities in their matchday programmes and on their official club websites.

From Liverpool's Dejan Lovren to Arsenal's Granit Xhaka, Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke and ex-Manchester City forward Nadia Nadim, players with a refugee background have been making their mark on the game for decades.

Naomi Westland, Football Welcomes manager at Amnesty International UK, said: "It's clear that football is a powerful force for good, bringing people together and providing a sense of belonging, and we are delighted that more clubs than ever are taking part in Football Welcomes this year.

"Across the country football clubs are doing amazing work to take a stand and show there is more that unites us than divides us.

"Football clubs are at the heart of their communities and can play an important role in creating respect and friendship across cultures.

"With so many people across the globe forced to abandon their homes due to conflict and persecution, this weekend the message from football is clear: refugees are welcome in the UK."

Amnesty ambassador and Chelsea defender Anita Asante said: "It can take a lot of integrity and courage to stand up against divisive and hateful actions and rhetoric but as football players, teams and fans it's important we all play our part.

"Lots of people identify with football, wherever they are from and whatever their background. That's why it's so heartening to see the footballing community come together for a weekend of welcoming and supporting refugees."

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey added: "Football Welcomes highlights the vital role football and our 72 clubs can play in bringing their communities together.

"Refugees have made a significant and lasting contribution to professional football in this country and we are proud to support this important initiative to celebrate the impact they have had on the game, whilst also making local refugees and people seeking asylum feel welcome at EFL matches."