The UK Asian Football Championship this year aims to raise the profile of Asians in football, and encourage debate around barriers to participation. The competition sees teams from across the country, all representing different parts of Britain's South Asian communities. As ambitious as the goal is, organisers of the event find it particularly difficult to encourage those watching, to attend more matches.
Jasvir Singh Sandhu said it wasn't easy being a football fan in the 1980s. He would visit Filbert Street "back in the day", to watch his local team. "The atmosphere, especially if you were Asian, was very intimidating, not very welcoming at all. These days I would say the situation has considerablty changed and for the better." The 18th edition of the Championship this year, saw several people from Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi backgrounds. "I would encourage members of the Asian community to take their children to football. If you don't then how do you expect them to break into the sport? I hope to take her to other matches as well. I don't want this to be a one-off."
Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association president Dilawer Singh said he hoped the event would help raise the profile of the issue. "Whilst we have yet to witness a breakthrough of Asian talent reaching the professional game, I remain hopeful events such as the championship will retain this rather emotive issues on the radar," he said.
The UK Asian Football Championship is organised by the Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association (Semsa) in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Rangers Football Club and Celtic Football Club.
