SACRAMENTO 2023 HOMELESS WORLD CUP: FIFPRO FAIR PLAY AWARDS (DAY 6)
Credit: Dan Higginson
In a tourney full of special teams, and so much personality displayed between every whistle, Team Austria were honored on Thursday evening with the fifth FIFPRO Fair Play Award. Each player was bestowed a football memento and congratulations by Carlos Saldaña, goalkeeper for Sacramento Republic FC.
Austria has showcased unparalleled spirit and collegiality throughout the entire week. In particular, during Wednesday night’s defeat to France, they disregarded the score and simply enjoyed the opportunity to play and laugh together. It is for this match that they have been awarded the FIFPRO Fair Play Award. This same game also earned the team the Hary Milas Whistle of Hope, a commemorative acknowledgement of sportsmanship.
The team continued to demonstrate tenacity immediately after the presentation, during their matchup against the US team. Team Austria are a brilliant illustration of passion and commitment to this global game.
The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (International Federation of Footballers), widely known as FIFPRO, is the world’s footballer’s union, representing around 65,000 professional footballers worldwide and the organisation has been a key supporter of the Homeless World Cup Foundation since 2015. FIFPRO sponsor a daily Fair Play Award at the Homeless World Cup each year.
The Homeless World Cup is, of course, a football competition; however, the values and ethos go beyond winning trophies. At its heart the tournament’s goal is to create a global community of players who feel included in society. The daily FIFPRO Fair Play Awards build on these ideals of the tournament. The awards are presented to teams and individuals who have demonstrated the values of fair play, respect and sportsmanship.
Credit: Dan Higginson
Words: Haley Lucero