The Chelsea Foundation has partnered with the Israeli Football Association (IFA) to bring a sports-based leadership programme to thousands more Jewish and Arab children in Israel.

In collaboration with the Peres Centre for Peace and Innovation (PCPI), the IFA and Chelsea Foundation will expand the Playing Fair, Leading Peace initiative, which was formed by the PCPI in 2016.

The programme sees Jewish and Arab university students take part in a football-based, anti-discrimination and leadership training programme. 

Following their training, young participants in the programme then work in mixed Jewish-Arab pairs to bring inclusive football activities to classes of Jewish and Arab schoolchildren.

Chelsea FC’s professional coaching model will be implemented and supported by Chelsea Foundation coaching staff.

The partnership between Chelsea FC, the Peres Centre and the IFA was formed after the Chelsea Women’s team visited Israel in 2019.

During the visit players took part in football and education workshops with Arab and Jewish girls, promoting communication, unity and teamwork through sport. 

Bruce Buck, Chairman of Chelsea FC, said: “During our visit to Israel in 2019, we saw first-hand the power football can have in bringing together communities and breaking down barriers. 

“We hope that this new initiative will empower children to harness the respect and fairness in football and use those values to promote greater tolerance, unity and inclusion in society.”

Oren Hasson, IFA President, said: “This groundbreaking collaboration is a testament to the partner’s belief in the power of football to be a connecting bridge on the pitch and everywhere. 

“No barrier, natural or artificial, will prevent the common future of us all in the field of football and in every other aspect in life.”