Copa90 unites with charity and broadcast partners for historic refugee football tournament

Sep. 12, 2016

Copa90, the global football fans network, has united with charity and media partners in a force of solidarity to support refugees. The result is the The Liberté Cup, a football tournament for refugees in the Grande-Synthe camp. Inspired by an idea from the award-winning creative duo Ary & Joe, and conceived by Copa90, the tournament is a partnership with charities Fuze Beyond Borders, The Worldwide Tribe, Utopia 56 and supported by Football Supporters Europe, FARE network and the Grande-Synthe Mairie The Liberté Cup is not political and there is no money involved. Its aim is simple – to change the way refugees are viewed in the media and to move perceptions away from the ‘swarms’ talked about by politicians towards being viewed as people with their own skills and passions. Held near the refugee camp at Grande-Synthe’s, Stade Jean Deconinck on 10th September 2016, the Liberté Cup will involve up to ten teams, comprised of refugees and various refugee-supporting teams from across Europe. Supporters will contribute football shirts from their home teams to create a wash of football colour. Training has already started in the camp, with refugees taking three sessions a week in preparation for the tournament. A documentary, produced in partnership with ITV, is set to follow.