Raise awareness of discrimination promote inclusion through football

The activity centred around a friendly match featuring two mixed teams of 14–17-year-old players from across Northern Ireland, who hail from different racial, cultural and religious backgrounds, going head-to-head in a game broadcast on BT Sport ahead of the UEFA Super Cup match in the country's capital.

English footballing legends and BT Sport pundits Glenn Hoddle and Joe Cole provided coaching from the sidelines, with Ferdinand offering expert analysis alongside fellow former-England international Eniola Aluko and two-time UEFA Champions League winner Steve McManaman in the commentary box.

Additionally, some of the children involved in the game took part in Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup opening ceremony on the pitch at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, which also featured a Hope United video.

Rio Ferdinand, England legend and BT Sport analyst

"Football is one language, it brings people together, it makes people smile, and if you can get a worthwhile and meaningful message alongside football, then you're winning."

An entertaining friendly

The two sides, Hope and United, played out a fantastic 3-3 draw in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Crusaders FC's Seaview Stadium that left everybody happy.

Regardless of the result, the event showed the power of football in bringing different people together in support of a common cause – highlighting the issue of online abuse.

"It's vitally important, especially for this next generation of kids who are dealing with things that our generation never had to," Ferdinand told UEFA.com.

"Education is key - it's important young people understand how you can combat abuse. It can be a lonely place online. With a phone, things never go away, it's always there at your fingertips. It's a lot harder for players and in young people in general, so these initiatives are hugely important."

United against hate

Aluko, who recently scaled back her social media usage, believes football has a unique power in bringing people together, a power which must be used to spread a positive and inclusive message.

"Football is one of the few avenues and sports that genuinely bring people together and bring attention to some of the ills of the world," she said. "Football has allowed me to meet people and make friends with people I would never have met, to see the world and I think that’s really powerful.

"We have an opportunity to speak about things like discrimination and online abuse. We see on a weekly basis racism and discrimination in sport, particularly online, and we need to find a way of changing that and driving that out."

There are, she added, things we can all do to help each other stay safe online.

"It feels horrible to receive online abuse," said the former Chelsea and Juventus forward. "I would really encourage the platforms, like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, to create a space where people are accountable for what they say. If you're accountable for what you say you will think twice about saying it.

BT Sport's Hope United campaign aims to tackle online abuse

"If you do see online abuse or discrimination, call it out, report it and trust that process, even though they could get better as well. Be kind and create a different type of energy and experience online."