Virgil van Dijk and LFC back Premier League's No Room For Racism campaign
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has joined players from across the Premier League to support this season’s No Room For Racism campaign, helping to highlight the importance of diversity in football and the collective responsibility to challenge discrimination.
Ahead of the Premier League’s dedicated No Room For Racism match rounds between October 17 and October 25, Van Dijk features prominently in a new player-led film celebrating the diversity that makes the game stronger.
The Reds defender also contributed to a series of educational resources being delivered through Premier League Primary Stars that aim to help young people understand the value of diversity and learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Speaking as part of the campaign, Van Dijk reflected on the importance of representing his heritage both on and off the pitch.
“It means a lot to me to represent my community on and off the pitch,” he said. “I’m proud of being part Surinamese, part Dutch, and it’s a good feeling to always represent what you stand for.
"I think it's important for young people to see role models who look like them, to see that they can achieve anything. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do or how you look.”
The latest campaign will be at Liverpool FC’s dedicated No Room For Racism fixture at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday October 25, and during the campaign week the club and LFC Foundation will be showcasing initiatives that celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and reinforce the message that there is No Room For Racism.
October’s campaign takes place during Black History Month, with this year’s theme being ‘Honouring Our Communities’, providing an opportunity to celebrate diversity while highlighting work that promotes inclusion and creates opportunities for people from all backgrounds to thrive.
Liverpool FC and LFC Foundation continue to support a range of initiatives throughout the year that bring communities together, promote equality and create positive opportunities for young people across the Liverpool City Region and beyond.
Red Together, which encompasses the club’s commitment to ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion, encourages fans to take a stand against hate and report any incidents of racism and discriminatory abuse both online and inside stadiums.
If fans witness any anti-social, discriminatory or abusive behaviour – including tragedy chanting or gesturing – they can report it to their nearest steward in confidence or text ‘LFC’ followed by a message to 64446, providing details of the incident and the location in the stadium.
The club also has an online reporting system in place to log incidents of abuse, which is available at liverpoolfc.com/reportabuse.
All reports of abuse received by the club will be investigated and escalated to the relevant authorities to be dealt with.
The club also continues to work with the Premier League, Football Association and other integral organisations, as well as calling on social media platforms to take swift and tough action against perpetrators.
