Atletico Diritti is a very special football team - composed of refugees, people in the penal system and students - which takes the field in the name of integration, anti-racism and human rights for all.

Atletico Diritti was created in September 2014 when two Italian NGOs - Associazione Antigone and Progetto Diritti, concerned with protecting the rights of prisoners, refugees and migrants - had the idea of trying to further the cause of human rights, and most specifically the values of integration and anti-racism, through sport. The football team made its official debut in the amateur league in 2014 and is currently taking part in its second championship.

Struggles and victories

During Atletico Diritti's first year, there have been numerous struggles. First and foremost is the chronic lack of financial resources and the bureaucratic difficulties to enroll foreign players in the league. At the same time, however, the team has collected many important victories (even if success on the pitch has been somewhat elusive).

Arguably the most important result, according to the club's president, Susanna Marietti, is the building up of a strong relationship between players coming from radically different backgrounds: for months, refugees, persons in the penal system and students have indeed trained and played together, shared meals and life experiences, and by now are a family of sorts.

A very special film

A young Italian filmmaker, Alessandro Marinelli, made a movie on the Atletico Diritti story called "Fragments of Liberty," which was presented at the Todi Human Rights International Film Festival. After making the film, Marinelli didn't leave, instead staying and becoming one of the team's pillars.

Atletico Diritti continues to compete against league teams, and has on two special occasions opposed other squads as well: one match was against a delegation of Italian parliamentarians, and in another game they played a team of international journalists, coders and designers in the context of The 19 Million Project (read more on this second, rather peculiar match on Fusion).

Support the team!

Atletico Diritti takes the field every Sunday in the name of anti-racism, integration and human rights for all. If you too believe in sport as a tool for social inclusion and change, go support the team on their official Facebook page and stay tuned for the upcoming crowdfunding campaign to support their sportive struggle for equal rights!