The FIFA Fair Play Award is a FIFA recognition of exemplary behaviour that promotes the spirit of fair play and compassion in :association football around the world. First awarded in 1987, it has been presented to individuals (including posthumously), teams, fans, spectators, football associations/federations and even entire footballing communities. One or more awards are presented annually, with there being at least one recipient each year except in 1994, when no award was presented.
Winners YearWinnersReason1987 Dundee United's fansFans' good behaviour towards winners IFK Göteborg in the UEFA Cup final.1988 Frank OrdenewitzSporting behaviour in admitting handball in a penalty situation in a match between 1. FC Köln and Werder Bremen.Fans leaving a lasting impression with their sporting and composed behaviour.1989 Trinidadian and Tobagonian supportersSporting behaviour despite home loss to the United States in their final match in the 1989 CONCACAF Championship.1990 Gary LinekerEntire 16-year career as a professional football player without a yellow or red card. 1991Exemplary way the government, media, schools, artists and sponsors were all involved in fair play activities. JorginhoUnique career and model behaviour both on and off the field. 1992Promoting fair play with its campaign "Football in Peace" and aid project "Casa Hogar" in Toluca, Mexico. 1993 Nándor HidegkutiHonoured for his model behaviour as a player and coach.Efforts of the reconstituted national team in the wake of 1993 Zambia national team air disaster.1994 Not awarded1995 Jacques GlassmannCourageous attitude as whistleblower in the Valenciennes and Marseille bribery case.1996 George WeahDemonstrating his true love for the game and projecting the message of Fair Play to the widest possible public. 1997 Irish supportersExemplary behaviour, especially during the World Cup preliminary match against Belgium. Jozef Žovinec (Slovak amateur player)60 years of amateur football without receiving a yellow card. Julie FoudyEfforts against child labour. 1998Sportsmanship surrounding their 1998 FIFA World Cup match, despite mutual political tensions for nearly 20 years.Efforts to reunite the Catholic and Protestant communities, in a match in Belfast between Cliftonville and Linfield.1999 New Zealand's football communityEfforts towards making the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship a resounding success.2000 Lucas RadebeWorking with children in South Africa and commitment to the fight against racism in football.2001 Paolo Di CanioTaking ball out of play with his hands, when opposing goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was injured on the ground. 2002 Korea Football AssociationDemonstrating a spirit of brotherhood and sportsmanship by co-hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Japan Football Association 2003 Celtic's FansExemplary behaviour in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final, despite Celtic losing 3–2 in extra-time to Porto.2004Recognition of the "Match for Peace" played by the national teams of Brazil and Haiti, where tickets were offered in exchange for guns.2005 Community of Iquitos, PeruWholehearted support of the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, and contribution to football.2006 Fans of the 2006 FIFA World CupFans' fair play, mutual respect, and special atmosphere created inside and outside the stadiums.2007 BarcelonaRejecting lucrative shirt sponsorship deals and instead carrying the UNICEF logo. 2008Encouraging dialogue between two countries which otherwise do not have any form of diplomatic relationship.2009 Bobby RobsonPosthumously awarded for commitment to fair play shown throughout his career as a player and coach.2010Enduring hardships in wake of 2010 Haiti earthquake.2011Enduring hardships in wake of 2011 Japan earthquake, while winning the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.2012Showing that fair play and competition are not mutually exclusive but complement each other.2013Solidarity in football against all odds through the after-effects of war, disorder and conflict.2014 World Cup volunteersTheir work, tireless support, enthusiasm, and passion for the game as demonstratedat the 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, and 2014 FIFA Club World Cup.2015All football organisations supporting refugeesWorking to support refugees in the face of conflict. Accepted on their behalf by Gerald Asamoah, who campaigns for the welfare of refugees.2016 Atlético NacionalRequested CONMEBOL to award Chapecoense with the 2016 Copa Sudamericana title after the LaMia Flight 2933 crash.2017 Francis KonéSaved the life of an opponent by administering on-pitch first aid after a collision.fifa.com2018 Lennart ThyMissed an Eredivisie match for VVV Venlo against PSV Eindhoven to donate blood for a recipientin urgent need of matching stem cells for leukaemia treatment.2019 Marcelo Bielsa After Leeds United scored while Aston Villa had an injured player on the pitch, Leeds United allowed Aston Villa to score unopposed. Leeds United2020 Mattia AgneseAdministered critical first aid to an opponent who lost consciousness following an on-field collision.2021 and medical staffAdministered critical CPR and protected Christian Eriksen during the UEFA Euro 2020 group stage match versus Finland2022 Luka LochoshviliSaving the life of Georg Teigl after he collapsed during a match.2023 Brazil national teamIn a friendly against Guinea in June 2023, the Seleção swapped their traditional yellow jerseys for an all-black kit in an anti-racism statement.2024 Thiago Maia Volunteering during the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods2025 Andreas Harlass-NeukingSaving a home fan's life during a match between SSV Jahn Regensburg and 1. FC Magdeburg
Notes – The Werder Bremen player admitted handball in the penalty area to the referee in a German League match against 1. FC Köln on 7 May 1988. Cologne went on to win the match 2–0. – Caroline Hanlon accepted on behalf of the supporters. In 2010 the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) refused the offer of a Fair Play award following the France and Republic of Ireland 2010 World Cup Play-offs handball controversy. CEO of the FAI John Delaney called FIFA President Sepp Blatter "an embarrassment to himself and an embarrassment to FIFA" for his handling and comments following the controversy.
References
External links FIFA Fair Play Award