Professional Footballers Australia (the PFA) partner John Moriarty Football (JMF) has been named as a finalist in the third edition of the FIFA Diversity Award.

The FIFA Diversity Award recognises an outstanding organisation, group initiative or personality that is standing up for diversity and anti-discrimination in football across the globe.

Named after the first indigenous football player to be selected for the Australian national team, JMF creates visibility and a brighter future for indigenous children of the Aboriginal community by using football as a key to strengthen their self-confidence against discrimination, to support discipline and structure as well as to encourage education and to foster life outcomes and career aspirations.

JMF delivers its programme in schools and campaigns during the Indigenous Football Week and is one of three nominees; the other two finalists are the ‘Horn of Africa Development Initiative’ in Kenya and the UK’s ‘Show Racism the Red Card’.

The winner of the award is chosen by a jury comprising 11 prominent names from football and the promotion of diversity in sport, including a representative of the winners of the 2017 edition, Soccer Without Borders (USA).

The PFA partnered with JMF to further enhance the foundation’s work in engaging indigenous Australians through football in 2016.

For the full news release, visit FIFA.com

Image credit: courtesy of JMF, by Professor Wayne Quilliam