Fair football tournament

Fairness and football are two concepts that are closely linked and were the focus of the "Fair Football Tournament" held by Host City Stuttgart on Friday, 13 October 2023. Just under two months before the final draw and the group draw for UEFA EURO 2024, the ball was rolling in the Sporthalle Nord: around 50 teenagers and young adults aged between 14 and their mid-20s played in the Fair Football Tournament, organised in cooperation with Gemeinschaftserlebnis Sport (Experiencing Community Through Sport – GES) and its Nachtschwärmer (Nighthawks) project as well as Jugendhaus Nord. Also at the tournament was Julian Schieber, former Bundesliga professional who played for VfB Stuttgart, Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC Berlin, among others.

"Football brings people together, as can be seen here and now", says the current assistant coach of SG Sonnenhof Großaspach and head coach of their U17 team. "I've seen a lot of young talent here, a lot of young teenagers, footballers from many different nations. We all have fun playing football, which unites us. We play one game and speak one language – the language of football."

The game kicked off at 10 pm and was played in teams of five players (one goalkeeper, four outfield players). There was no winning team. The Fair Football Tournament focusses on fun and fair cooperation, not on winning. Each participant also received a jersey with the UEFA EURO logo of Host City Stuttgart.

Through its Nachtschwärmer project, GES offers young adults aged 14 and over a sporting programme that uses football as an educational tool. The aim is to focus on enjoying the game and working together. The focus is not on winning, but on the shared experience. There are no referees – the teams must treat each other fairly and manage the game together as teams.

The Fair Football Tournament organised by Host City Stuttgart was certified as a "Green Event BW".