UEFA is to host a new international friendly tournament for refugee teams this summer, the European governing body has announced.
Teams from Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Malta, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland will participate in the Unity Euro Cup at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on June 29.
The teams will be composed of 70 per cent refugees and 30 per cent non-refugee players, with the aim being to strengthen ties between communities and displaced people through football.
The tournament builds upon UEFA’s relationship with the United Nations Refugee Agency, with whom it signed a cooperation protocol last year as part of its ‘Strength Through Unity’ strategy.
Michele Uva, UEFA’s football and social responsibility director said: “Today, on World Refugee Day, UEFA honours the strength and courage of refugees together with UNHCR.
“Our common goal is to help refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced people to remain physically and mentally healthy and become part of their host community through the power of football.”
