Football Australia supports increasing humanitarian refugee intake from Afghanistan

Football Australia has confirmed its support for the Australian Government’s humanitarian response to Afghanistan and called for the consideration of increasing the country’s refugee intake beyond the initial 3,000 places previously announced.

Football Australia supports a strong special humanitarian intake from Afghanistan and is committed to using the power of football to help newly arrived Afghans to settle into their new life in Australia.

Football Australia Chief Executive, James Johnson stated yesterday “football is the first love of Afghanistan, and as Australia’s largest club-based participation team sport, the game of football is uniquely placed to help our newest Australians re-establish a sense of community and to support families to rebuild their lives here.

“As a football nation at the forefront of the women’s game globally, we pay tribute to the Afghani women who broke new ground in building the women’s game and we stand ready to support them as they build their new lives in Australia.”

Football Australia has pledged that it will work with the Australian Government, Afghani community leaders, settlement agencies and our State/Territory Member Federations to explore how the game can be made accessible to Afghani refugees either as players, coaches or referees, and how they may be connected to the 2,500 grassroots clubs around the country to be part of our growing football community.

Johnson added “the football family in Australia welcomes the Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s comments that this intake represents a floor, not a ceiling, and we encourage the Australian Government to consider further increasing the Afghan intake in the weeks and months ahead.”

Image: Young cricketers in Afghanistan prior to the recent change of government.