World football governing body, FIFA, and its European counterpart, UEFA, have teamed up in the fight against racism championed by United Kingdom-London Press TV/Africa Global Channel.
With football as the principal tool for the campaign, the organisers said part of the event is a football match that will pit FIFA All Stars against UEFA All Stars in an ‘Europe Against Racism’ charity match at Wembley Stadium, London, June, next year.
According to the organisers, former World Footballer of the Year, George Weah, who is the first player to become president of a country, will be honoured at a ceremony tagged: World Football Legends Royal Awards 2024.
They also disclosed plans for a King Charles of England endorsed Golden Cup and also a Commonwealth Football Youth Development Cup.
Speaking on the event, CEO, London Press TV/Africa Global Channel, David Irabor, told The Guardian that his firm plans to collaborate with Guardian News & Media Group UK to host and promote the “Europe against racism’” charity football match, the World Football LegendsRoyal Award and Africa Global Inspirational Awards, which would also feature a musical gala concert.
Irabor said Weah would be celebrated for demonstrating the spirit of sportsmanship by conceding defeat after the recent Liberia election.
Irabor said: “Weah chose to be different; he chose honour and dignity. This historic and heroic concession of defeat was not just a personal feat, it was a crucial moment for his country, Africa and democracy, and even the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, celebrated him for demonstrating uncommon leadership by conceding the election and averting any form of socio-political bloody crisis in the just-concluded presidential election.”
According to Irabor, also to be honoured at the World Football Legends Royal Awards are David Baldwin, Richard Masters, Mike Oshikoya, Sir Alex Ferguson, Johan Cruyff, Pierluigi Collina, Michelle Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, also Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Nnamdi Kanu, Austin JayJay Okocha and Victor Osimhen.
Others are AsisatOshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Hilda Magala, among others.
“The past and present football world administrators will all be honoured with a Legendary Iconic Recognition Awards. They include Lionel Scaloni, Lucianno Spaletti, Head, La Liga, Favier Gomez, Head Serie A, Luigi De Sierro, Francois Pinault and Nasser Al-Khelaiffi, as well as such football administrators as Sepp Blatter, current UEFA President, Aleksander Ceferin, current FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and now FIFA Council member, AmajuPinnick, English FA chairperson, Debbie Hewitt, and NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, among others.”
He said the Africa Global Awards seeks to honour those who made inroad and contributions to the society in the social-political arena, global business distinction, humanitarian endeavors, leading figures in the society.
