Unveiled on Saturday evening at Sharjah Stadium during the Sharjah FC versus Shabab Al Ahli match, the initiative brings together sports clubs, families and supporters to promote positive cheering and create safer, more welcoming environments for young spectators.
Running until the end of the 2026–2027 sports season under the slogan “Different teams. Shared respect”, the campaign will involve sports clubs across Sharjah in awareness activities that promote respectful conduct, discourage abusive behaviour and reinforce the importance of accepting match results with good sportsmanship.
The initiative highlights that children learn about competition not only from what happens on the pitch, but also from adults’ responses to it. Supporters’ reactions to victory and disappointment, and their interactions with rival fans, can shape children’s understanding of respect, tolerance and how to deal with differences.
Building a sporting culture that starts with young fans
His Excellency Mohammed Obaid Al Hosan Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Sports Council, said the initiative reflects sporting institutions’ responsibility to contribute to children’s development and to reinforce the values associated with sport.
He said children are an important part of today’s sporting community, including the players, coaches and sports leaders of tomorrow. The values they experience in stadiums, he added, will shape the sporting culture they carry forward.
Al Shamsi stressed that young fans should understand that supporting their teams passionately and respecting opponents go hand in hand, irrespective of the final result.
He added that the partnership with the Child Safety Organisation and sports clubs across Sharjah would deliver the message directly to supporters and engage fans and families in making positive sporting behaviour part of the matchday experience.
The influence of the stands extends beyond the stadium
Her Excellency Dr Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, Director-General of the Child Safety Organisation, said that protecting children also requires attention to the social environments they experience and the behaviours they observe in everyday life.
She explained that football matches offer children opportunities to learn how people treat one another. While a moment of anger or frustration may seem insignificant to an adult, it can leave a lasting impression on a child.
When children see supporters respecting opposing teams, managing their emotions and accepting results, they learn that differences and competition should never come at the expense of respect, she said.
Al Yafei added that parents, clubs and supporters all have a role in setting positive examples for younger generations, with the values reinforced at matches extending into children’s relationships, schools and communities.
Taking the message directly to supporters
The campaign made its debut at Sharjah Stadium, where members of the Sharjah FC Supporters’ Association and fans displayed banners bearing messages such as “The match ends. Respect stays.” and “My voice backs my team. My respect includes everyone.”
The messages encouraged fans to support their clubs enthusiastically while respecting opponents and fellow spectators, thereby bringing the campaign’s central message into the atmosphere of a live football match.
Targeting children aged four and above, teenagers, young people, parents and the wider sporting community, the campaign promotes responsible conduct, including avoiding offensive language and behaviour, respecting rival supporters, protecting stadium facilities and adhering to safety instructions.
Delivered in cooperation with the Sharjah Sports Council, sports clubs across the emirate, and Sharjah Sports TV, ‘Respect Wins’ will continue throughout the season with awareness activities and supporter engagement, reinforcing the role of football clubs and fans in creating a positive sporting environment for children and families.
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