Fortnight of Action in Scotland 2012
Tackling Racism and Sectarianism, Promoting Inclusion
Report by Amanda Peebles, Campaign Worker
December 2012
Peterhead FC
Introduction
The 9th Show Racism the Red Card Fortnight of Action in Scotland took place from the 12th – 31st October
2012. The 2012 Fortnight of Action again made a stand against both racism and sectarianism. The
campaign felt it was vital to highlight the anti-sectarianism message as well as the anti-racism message
during this year’s Fortnight of Action, especially when recent incidents have once again highlighted the
problem of racism and sectarianism within our communities.
This time of concerted action across Scotland encourages community groups, schools and professional
football clubs, amongst others, to positively engage with Show Racism the Red Card. A major aim of the
Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card Fortnight of Action was to encourage anti-racism / antisectarianism actions, events and initiatives to take place throughout the year.
The involvement of professional football clubs is central to Show Racism the Red Card’s method of
engaging with positive anti-racism / anti-sectarianism messages. The Fortnight of Action is Scotland’s
method of participation in UEFA partners Football Against Racism in Europe’s action weeks.
Fortnight of Action – Launch
The Fortnight was launched with a charity football match involving ex-professional footballers, Scottish
Politicians and representatives from Scottish Media on Thursday 18 October 2012 at Toryglen Regional
Football Centre, Glasgow.
Fortnight of Action Launch involving Ex-Professional Footballers, Politicians and representatives from
Scottish Media
Once again, this proved a great way to kick-start the fortnight of anti-racism and anti-sectarianism
actions. Toryglen Regional Football Centre was a great venue for the launch with fantastic indoor
facilities for the charity football match and networking after the game.
This year the match took place within Glasgow City Council’s October School holidays and as the launch
took place in a Glasgow venue that is well utilised we generated a good audience for the launch, raising
a greater awareness and interest in the Fortnight of Action. However, as this is only the second year of
promoting the launch to the public, I feel we could do a lot more to promote it,. This year we undertook
the following promotion: social media campaign, website promotion, email campaign, flyers throughout
venue and asking sponsors and supporters to promote on our behalf. One of my recommendations for
next year would be to secure a student to deliver a focused Fortnight of Action marketing campaign,
with the launch having a dedicated promotional campaign, which I feel would attract a greater interest
and inspire even more anti-racism / anti-sectarianism supporters and actions next year.
The launch event was sponsored by PFA Scotland and built momentum for all of the anti-racism and
anti-sectarianism actions at Scottish Premier League(SPL), Scottish Football League (SFL), Scottish
Women’s Premier League (SWPL), Scottish Women’s Football League (SWFL), Scottish Cup 3rd round
fixtures, and community initiatives which took place across the fortnight. The launch received positive
media coverage with presence on Sky News.
Fortnight of Action – Community Grants
A Grant Scheme is undertaken annually to encourage participation from non-statutory organisations in
organising and delivering anti-racism and anti-sectarianism events / initiatives throughout Scotland. The
Grant Scheme is always limited to the amount of funding available and this year a total of £2000 worth
of Fortnight of Action community grants were awarded to 13 successful grant applicants. We were
extremely grateful for the £1,000 sponsorship received from ARISE funding in Glasgow for anti-racism /
anti-sectarianism projects in Glasgow.
Projects which were successful in gaining funding included football festivals, cultural awareness projects
and football supporters initiatives across Scotland promoting anti-racism, anti-sectarianism, equality and
respect.
Recipients
Afroscots United FC
Budhill Family Learning Centre
Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council
Govan Youth Information Project
Hyde ‘N’ Seek
Queens Cross Housing Association
Queen’s Park FC
Springburn Nursery School
Geographical Region
Glasgow
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Glasgow
North Lanarkshire
Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow
The Spartans Community Football Academy
Whitletts Victoria Football Club
Youth Inclusive
Ayrshire Friends of Refugee Group
KA Leisure
Kilmarnock and Loudon TUC
Edinburgh
Ayrshire
Inverness
Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Budhill Family Learning Centre
Grant recipient feedback:
“The children learned all about different cultures and recognising we all have similarities but are all
unique and all deserve to be treated equally. We achieved this through multi-cultural food tasting,
wearing red to nursery day, making red cards, watching an anti-racism dvd and discussing this.
“Our Show Racism the Red Card day will be the beginning of many cultural activities to raise awareness
on a more regular basis and we can continue to use the resources we received through our grant.
The children at Hyde ‘N’ Seek thoroughly enjoyed the multi-cultural day and benefited very much from
the funding received.”
Shauni Millar, Nursery Practitioner, Hyde ‘N’ Seek Nursery, Cultural Event
“A significant number of young people participating in our Fortnight of Action event had recently been
involved in an all day anti-racism / anti-sectarianism educational event with Show Racism the Red Card
at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC, therefore, this event proved a great follow-up and further promoted
the important messages of anti-racism, anti-sectarianism, equality and respect.
“The combined messages at this event worked very well as healthy eating and the benefit of physical
activity was also promoted.”
Brian Irvine, Project Director, Youth Inclusive, Good Choices – Positive Messages Event
“Bringing families, players and coaches together under the Show Racism the Red Card banner has
helped remind everyone of their responsibilities. We hope it proves to be of some value.”
George Watson, Community Development Manager, Queen’s Park FC
The grant scheme is an integral part of the Fortnight of Action and a great way of encouraging
community organisations to take anti-racism / anti-sectarianism action throughout and beyond the
Fortnight of Action.
The grant scheme would not be possible without the continued and invaluable support from our
sponsors and supporters across Scotland. A key recommendation for next year would be to prioritise
securing a significant amount of sponsorship allowing us to further grow and develop the grant scheme.
The above feedback highlights the importance of engaging communities across Scotland and the value
of their events, encouraging participants to run further events throughout the year.
Also, securing a higher level of sponsorship would allow community groups to further develop the action
they take and involve more participants. Additionally, involving as many sponsors as possible would
assist with the promotion and support across Scotland.
Professional Football
The greatest impact during the fortnight is the SPL and SFL anti-racism and anti-sectarianism actions. As
the campaign was running its second joint Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card Fortnight of Action, it
was agreed again that all professional clubs would take a stand against both racism and sectarianism at
a home game during the fortnight, resulting in double the actions that have taken place in previous
years.
The SPL and SFL actions within the Fortnight of Action are the highest profile events of the Show Racism
the Red Card calendar.
Actions taken at all SPL and SFL home games across the fortnight (weekends 19th, 20th and 21st and 26th,
27th and 28th October) included:

All SPL and SFL clubs took action at a home game within the fortnight and their strips carried a
‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ logo.
Berwick Rangers FC



All clubs wore new ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ t-shirts during their training sessions
immediately prior to the weekend (SPL only).
All clubs wore new ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ t-shirts during pre-match warm-ups
throughout the fortnight.
A number of clubs nominated their Manager / Captain / player or club representative to act as
the ‘Fortnight of Action Ambassador’ to ensure all anti-racism / anti-sectarianism actions took
place.
“Football is an inclusive sport. The beautiful game doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, black or
white. It just asks, ‘Can you play?’
“In order to succeed, players need to play together as a team, respecting each other for what
they can bring. It doesn’t matter which culture or nation you are from you just focus on bringing
the best out in each other, by sharing experiences and skills. That’s a great model for life.”
Danny Lennon, First Team Manager, St Mirren FC, Fortnight of Action Ambassador

All players and match officials at each game held up ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’
cards prior to kick-off, this was complemented by either a pre-recorded message by the club’s
Fortnight of Action Ambassador, or a statement read out by the match commentator reinforcing the clubs support for the key messages being promoted.
Peterhead FC




Where facilities allowed, score boards and or stadium hoardings carried ‘Show Racism the Red
Card’ branding.
Ball attendants wore ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ branded t-shirts throughout all SPL
fixtures.
Show Racism the Red Card articles were featured on football authorities’ and football club
websites.
Articles on Show Racism the Red Card were featured in Match Day programmes.
Celtic Programme Article


Managers and Coaches wore Show Racism the Red Card button badges throughout games
during the fortnight and at Press / Media interviews.
Hospitality was provided for Show Racism the Red Card staff plus guests at SPL matches.
Again having the campaigns’ branding on all home team strips throughout the fortnight provided a
powerful image to demonstrate that there is no place for racism and sectarianism in football or society.
The new ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ branded t-shirts worn by professional footballers were
key to promoting the second joint Fortnight of Action, and we are extremely grateful to PFA Scotland for
their contribution to the cost.
Additionally, it is right to highlight the continued invaluable support received from the SPL, SFL and their
respective clubs. Below is an example of what it would cost for the above list of actions to take place at
an SPL fixture if we did not receive the in-kind support of the football authorities and their clubs:
Match Day Activity
£120,000
One 'weekend of action' that will include:
Squads wearing campaign t-shirts during training the day before the match
Squads warm-up in campaign t-shirts on match day
Messaging displayed by players on the field before kick-off
PA announcements to support on-field activity and messaging
Match day programme article
Right to brand first team shirts with campaign logo
2 x Directors Box tickets per match
Website articles on SPL and club websites
There were two weekends of focused Show Racism the Red Card activity at all SPL games, which would
total £240,000 if we did not receive in-kind support from the SPL and their clubs. This is without
including SFL activity. It shows clearly that football authorities and clubs contribute massively to the
campaign.
Without this continued in-kind support the professional football activity throughout the Fortnight of
Action would be impossible – the input of professional football is vital to the success of the Fortnight of
Action.
Throughout the fortnight 39 SPL / SFL fixtures had red card presence across the two weekends.
The SPL and SFL actions throughout the fortnight received the highest media coverage of any previous
Fortnight of Action, with coverage on BBC Scotland News, STV News, the Daily Record, the Sunday Mail,
The Herald, the Sunday Herald and the Evening Times, as well as coverage in many local newspapers.
Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October 2012
Attendance
Figures
5,006
Broadcast on
Dundee v Inverness Caledonian Thistle
BBC ALBA
9,878
Broadcast on
Dundee United v Aberdeen
BBC ALBA
Ross County v Hibernian
4,070
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock
3,113
6,008
Broadcast on
ESPN St Mirren v Celtic
102,600
11,572
Broadcast on
Hearts v Motherwell
Sky – 61,500
Attendance Figure Total
39,447
SPL Fixture
Saturday 20th October 2012
SFL Fixture
Cowdenbeath v Raith Rovers
Dumbarton v Falkirk
Dunfermline Athletic v Greenock Morton
Hamilton Academical v Livingston
Partick Thistle v Airdrie United
Albion Rovers v Arbroath
Alloa Athletic v Ayr United
East Fife v Forfar Athletic
Queen of the South v Stenhousemuir
Brechin City v Stranraer
Berwick Rangers v Clyde
East Stirlingshire v Peterhead
Elgin City v Annan Atheltic
Stirling Albion v Montrose
Rangers v Queen’s Park
Friday 26th and Saturday 27th October 2012
Attendance
Figures
5,381
Broadcast
on ESPN –
Motherwell v Hibernian
62,900
Aberdeen v Dundee
10,425
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v St Johnstone
3,154
Celtic v Kilmarnock
38,504
Total
57,464
SPL Fixture
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October 2012
SFL Fixture
Dunfermline Athletic v Cowdenbeath
Falkirk v Partick Thistle
Hamilton Academical v Raith Rovers
Livingston v Greenock Morton
Dumbarton v Airdrie United
Alloa Athletic v Albion Rovers
Ayr United v Arbroath
Brechin City v Stenhousemuir
Stranraer v Forfar Athletic
Annan Athletic v East Stirlingshire
Montrose v Elgin City
Peterhead v Stirling Albion
Queen’s Park v Berwick Rangers
Clyde v Rangers
Scottish Cup 3rd Round Fixtures Activity
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) contributed to the Fortnight of Action in 2012 by promoting
Show Racism the Red Card’s messages throughout all William Hill Scottish Cup Competition 2012 / 2013
Round Three Fixtures. The above competition usually falls within the last week of the fortnight,
however, this year it took place the week after the fortnight but proved successful as this increased the
overall number of fixtures with red card presence, as the majority of teams involved in the competition
are SFL. Therefore, this year there was more fixtures with red card presence than ever before. A
significant number of teams, predominantly SFL, promoted Show Racism the Red Card’s anti-racism /
anti-sectarianism messages across three fixtures, in turn, increasing the impact and value of the
message.
The Scottish Cup 3rd Round Fortnight of Action activity took place on Saturday 3rd November 2012; the
players and match officials participated in a ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ display before kickoff and home club players had the ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the Red Card’ logo on their shirts
throughout the game across 16 fixtures.
Saturday 3rd November 2012
Scottish Cup 3rd Round Fixtures
Buckie Thistle v Turriff United
Dumbarton v East Stirlingshire
Airdrie United v Raith Rovers
Stranraer v Queen’s Park
Partick Thislte v Cove Rangers
Forfar Athletic v Nairn County
Albion Rovers v Greenock Morton
Cowdenbeath v Vale of Leithen
Edinburgh City v Queen of the South
Stirling Albion v Deveronvale
Inverurie Loco Works v Arbroath
Ayr United v Inverness Clachnacuddin
Stenhousemuir v Berwick Rangers
Brechin City v Bonnyrigg Rose
Rangers v Alloa Athletic
Elgin City v East Fife
Buckie Thistle v Turriff United (3rd Round Scottish Cup tie)
SWPL and SWFL Activity
The SWPL and SWFL Fortnight of Action activity took place on Sunday 28th October across 12 fixtures.
The players and match officials involved in these fixtures participated in a ‘Show Racism and Bigotry the
Red Card’ display before kick-off.
Sunday 28 October 2012
SWPL Fixtures
Glasgow City v Aberdeen
Hibernian v Spartans
Forfar Farmington v Celtic
Hutchison Vale v Falkirk Ladies
Kilmarnock v Rangers
Inverness City v Hamilton Academical
SWFL 1st Division Fixtures
Queen’s Park v Forfar Farmington Reserves
Troon v Airdrie United
Hibernian Reserves v Paisley Saints Ladies
Buchan v Glasgow City Reserves
Cowdenbeath v Raith Rovers
Kilwinning v Celtic Reserves
SWPL Fortnight of Action Activity
Conclusion
This has been a record breaking Fortnight of Action in Scotland. For the second year running the
Fortnight of Action made a stand against both racism and sectarianism, and all professional football
clubs took actions across the fortnight, instead of one weekend. This proved extremely beneficial as it
enhanced Show Racism the Red Card’s profile across the fortnight. We will continue to develop the ways
we involve professional football within the Fortnight of Action: a huge platform for the campaign. The
increase in the actions taken by professional football clubs proved extremely successful.
More Show Racism the Red Card actions took place across Scotland than ever before, from professional
football clubs’ actions, to community actions within and beyond our Fortnight of Action community
grant scheme.
It is truly inspiring to see the Fortnight of Action grow year on year, involving more people and more
actions / events than ever before, throughout Scotland. Moreover, this year we have seen a huge
increase in grassroots football clubs’ involvement within the fortnight. Grassroots football clubs across
Scotland have been inspired to replicate the anti-racism and anti-sectarianism actions taken by their
local SPL and SFL teams at their own games and within their communities. This is significant as it
highlights the importance of spreading the message, and the crucial role that professional footballers
play as role models.
However, it is also important that these actions act as a catalyst for further anti-racism and antisectarianism events and initiatives throughout the year. For instance, professional football clubs,
managers and players will participate in anti-racism and anti-sectarianism educational events at their
clubs throughout the season and they will support our Annual Anti-Racism and Anti-Sectarianism
Creative Competition by donating prizes and sending players to the awards ceremony, to support the
campaign and present prizes to the winners.
Schools and Further Education colleges can get involved by entering our Annual Anti-Racism and AntiSectarianism Creative Competition. Schools pupils can also attend our educational events at football
clubs and grassroots football teams can get involved in our grassroots football initiatives.
Furthermore, and most importantly, schools / colleges / grassroots football clubs etc can arrange their
own anti-racism and anti-sectarianism events within their communities, throughout the year, with the
support of Show Racism the Red Card resources.
There is many ways to get involved, and to engage with Show Racism the Red Card, to promote antiracism, anti-sectarianism, and messages of equality and respect. The Fortnight of Action is a fantastic
platform to showcase the anti-racism and anti-sectarianism messages and to encourage more people to
get involved and take action throughout the year. The continued growth of the Fortnight of Action
highlights its importance and reputation for excellence.
Above all, the success of the Fortnight of Action is due to the invaluable support and funding received
from the Scottish Government, trade unions, football authorities and their clubs, PFA Scotland and
community organisations across Scotland. With that continued support we are confident that the
significant success of this year’s event can be surpassed in 2013.
The main recommendation to ensure the 2013 Fortnight of Action is bigger and better than ever before
is to secure a significant level of sponsorship by implementing a focused sponsorship strategy in early
2013. Also, it would be of great benefit to involve a volunteer in spring / summer 2013 to deliver a
dedicated Fortnight of Action marketing campaign, drumming up as much interest, promotion and
publicity as possible for the campaign. Finally, continuing to build and nurture our relationships with
trade union branches across Scotland is of great importance in increasing support and involvement of
communities across Scotland.