NewsUN special advisor uses Anfield summit to praise the power of sport in combating hate

The United Nations special advisor on the prevention of genocide used the event to praise, among other things, Reds players for the work they continue to do to help combat hate.

Alice Wairimu Nderitu was speaking at the summit hosted by LFC, which included representatives from elite sports around the world to garner support for 'The Game Plan' - a coordinated effort by the UN and the Eradicate Hate Global Sports Working Group to counter the growing increase in hate speech and hate-fuelled violence.

Speaking on behalf of the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, the UN special advisor told delegates: "From school matches to the World Cup, football brings people together across racial, religious, social, and political divides. It unites communities around pride and purpose; and it can help to combat hate. Leading sports men and women, as celebrities and role models, can inspire people across generations and continents. I know many members of Liverpool's team are doing just that."

Laura Ellsworth, co-chair of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit, highlighted the importance of sportspeople helping to spread the ambition and positive goals of 'The Game Plan', saying: "Athletes are heroes to many, including extremists, so who better to carry the message of acceptance, mutual respect, and compassion, to those who most need to hear it."

As an active member of the Eradicate Hate Global Sports Working Group, LFC brought together representatives from Premier League clubs, Formula 1, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), NASCAR, Rugby England, and the Rugby Football League to work collaboratively and share best practice.

Rishi Jain, senior equality, diversity and inclusion manager at LFC, added: "As a club we are a proud member of the Eradicate Hate Global Sports Working Group and are committed to tackling hate-fuelled speech and behaviour through our Red Together programme, which embeds equality, diversity, and inclusion into everything that we do.

"It was a privilege to host the summit and bring together so many like-minded representatives from the world of sport to work collaboratively to effect positive change that will make a difference."

To find out more about LFC's Red Together programme and continued work to eradicate hate speech and discrimination, visit here.

To learn more about 'The Game Plan' of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit's Sports Working Group, visit here.