Ipswich Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi chosen to represent the club in the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign
An Ipswich Town striker has been chosen to represent the club in the Premier League’s anti-racism campaign.
Ali Al-Hamadi, 22, was one of 20 players nominated by teams in the top rung of English football to act as an icon for the No Room For Racism campaign.
Players were selected to celebrate the impact they have had within the sport of their local community. Each nominee was handed a sketch of themselves drawn by artist Kingsley Nebechi.
Rapper Wretch32 has created a track for the campaign designed to showcase how greatness can come from anywhere.
Iraq-born Ali was chosen due to his story and work to promote diversity at The Blues, his move to Liverpool as a child due to the Iraq war, and his status as a ‘trailblazer’ due to him being the first person of Iraqi descent to play for a Premier League team, a spokeswoman for the campaign said.
He will also be involved in Ipswich’s refugee football programme later this month.
Each team in the Premier League nominated one of their own for the campaign.
Richard Masters, chief executive of the Premier League, said one of football’s biggest strengths was its ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds.
He said: “We are proud to celebrate individuals who represent the importance of diversity within football, including trailblazing players and inspirational club employees who set a great example to others day in, day out.
“Through our No Room For Racism Action Plan, we are committed to improving diversity across football and we will continue to work hard to show that any form of discrimination will not be tolerated.”
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