Football fans in Bosnia and Herzegovina witnessed something greater than the game last night, when FK Željezničar and FK Borac faced off in Sarajevo. Just before kick-off, the players took to the pitch with a clear message: “We are against hate and violence in sport towards anyone.”

This symbolic act united players, clubs, institutions and fans in a common stance against hate speech and violence in sport. It also highlighted the unique power of football to bring people from diverse communities together and to inspire positive change both on and off the field.

The initiative, organised as part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe initiative “Block the hatred. Share the love. 2.0!”, used the popularity of football to promote tolerance, inclusion, equality and solidarity in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Alongside FK Željezničar, the action was supported by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Football Association of BiH and FK Borac, with the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe.

“I am truly glad that last night, before the start of the match, we saw the message against hate and violence sent by the players of Željezničar and Borac. Their message reminds us that sport is not only about the game, but also about respect, fair play and the positive example that top athletes give to their fans and society as a whole. We all share the same responsibility to use sport for good and to prevent its misuse in spreading hatred or intolerance — whether on the field, in the stands or at home — and to say clearly: yes to respect and fair play, no to hate,” said Ferdinand Koenig, Head of Communications and Spokesperson of the European Union in BiH.

“As many already know, FK Željezničar regularly takes part in numerous socially responsible initiatives, and we were pleased to join this important campaign as well. As the most popular club in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we also bear a special responsibility to promote positive values by example and to do everything we can to ensure that stadiums remain arenas of fair competition, free of hatred and intolerance,” emphasised Mr. Jusuf Tanović, Acting Director of FK Željezničar.

The initiative is part of the broader European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, through the action “Towards an equal, inclusive and tolerant Bosnia and Herzegovina” and the Council of Europe project “Combatting discrimination, hatred and racism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”