Welcome to Istanbul

In September 2008, the 1st World Football Congress (WFC) of the Game of FairPlay© will convene in Istanbul to examine football activities from an international perspective. The aim is to promote a systematic and coherent use of football in economic and social development while maintaining fair play. The Congress will encourage fair play on and off the field and generate greater support for such activities among clubs, national associations, player representatives, commercial partners and other related football organizations. Football can cut across the barriers that divide societies, making it a powerful tool to address social concerns, both symbolically at the global level and practically within and between communities. Especially when applied fairly and effectively, football activities promote social integration, ethnicity and foster tolerance and generate communications

The Game of FairPlay© is an organization that is geared towards promoting fairness in the global game of association football or ‘soccer’. There is a natural partnership between fair play in the game of football and the concepts driving the WFC. By its very nature football is about participation, teamwork and co-operation while playing within a competitive environment. Football includes participants within a world community and at a national level it helps identify fans and player with the value of citizenship. Today football brings individuals and communities together, highlighting commonalties and bridging cultural, political or ethnic divides. 

There are also challenges. Today the game itself is continually on trial from many fair play perspectives. There is too much political interference; there is match-fixing and there are other forms of corruption that thrive on the back of the growing financial importance of the game. Yet football still provides a means for participants to learn many skills such as discipline, confidence and leadership. It can offer core principles such as tolerance, cooperation and respect. Football shows us the value of effort and how to manage victory, as well as defeat. When these positive aspects of game are emphasized, football becomes a powerful social vehicle for good in the world.

We note the sentiments recently expressed by Michel Platini, president of UEFA in the Economis

“We need to protect and strengthen ethical sporting values that champion fair play, respect for referees and opponents, and fair competitions. We must defend the European sports model based on financial solidarity between rich and poor, as we are convinced that that’s the best way forward to protect the future of football.”

The Game of FairPlay congress will examine the causes and consequences of increasing commercialisation. It will try and find a way for common sense and sporting integrity to prevail for all those with a stake in the game, not least the fans of the ‘beautiful game’!