CSR: Athletic Club Bilbao among the five winners of the 2021-22 UEFA Grassroots Awards

The 2021-22 UEFA Grassroots Awards go to IK Dien (BEL, "Best Amateur Club" category), Athletic Club Bilbao (LaLiga Santander, "Best Professional Club"), the Moldovan Football Federation (FMF, "Best Participation Initiative"), the Scottish FA ("Best Disability Initiative") and the German NGO Discover Football ("Best Social Initiative"), announced the European Confederation on 06/04/2022.

These five awards (see below) "recognise outstanding work below the elite levels of the game, shining a spotlight on projects, clubs and national associations that are raising the standards of grassroots football (or amateur football) and providing an important contribution to the communities around them," explained UEFA.

Athletic Bilbao won the gold award in the professional club category for its Aterpe (which means "shelter" in Basque) child protection programme, which "enables a safe environment for players, ballboys and girls, and player escorts, includes preventive elements, staff training and action protocols, with special attention to caring for children in vulnerable social situations," said…