FIFA Fair Play Award
The FIFA Fair Play Award is an annual recognition presented by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to teams, individuals, or entities that have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship and fair play in the world of football.
This award aims to highlight instances where participants have exhibited exemplary behavior, respect for opponents, and adherence to the principles of fair play on and off the field. It celebrates acts of integrity, ethical conduct, and positive contributions to the spirit of fair competition within the global football community.
The FIFA Fair Play Award serves to emphasize the importance of sportsmanship and integrity in football, encouraging a culture of respect and fairness among players, teams, and football associations worldwide.
The FIFA Fair Play Award was first awarded in 1987, it has been presented to individuals (including posthumously), teams, fans, spectators, football associations/federations and even entire footballing communities. There was no award presented in 1994.
| Year | Winners | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | The Brazil men's national team | For their stand against racism |
| 2022 | Luka Lochoshvili | For saving the life of Austrian footballer Georg Teigl after he collapsed during an Austrian Bundesliga match between Austria Wien and Wolfsberger AC. |
| 2021 | Denmark national team and medical staff | Administered critical CPR and protected Christian Eriksen during the UEFA Euro 2020 group stage match versus Finland |
| 2020 | Mattia Agnese | Administered critical first aid to an opponent who lost consciousness following an on-field collision. |
| 2019 | Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United | After Leeds United scored while Aston Villa had an injured player on the pitch, Leeds United allowed Aston Villa to score unopposed. |
| 2018 | Lennart Thy | Missed an Eredivisie match for VVV Venlo against PSV Eindhoven to donate blood for a recipient in urgent need of matching stem cells for leukaemia treatment. |
| 2017 | Francis Koné | Saved the life of an opponent by administering on-pitch first aid after a collision. |
| 2016 | Atlético Nacional | Requested CONMEBOL to award Chapecoense with the 2016 Copa Sudamericana title after the LaMia Flight 2933 crash. |
| 2015 | All football organisations supporting refugees | Working to support refugees in the face of conflict. Accepted on their behalf by Gerald Asamoah, who campaigns for the welfare of refugees. |
| 2014 | World Cup volunteers | Their work, tireless support, enthusiasm, and passion for the game as demonstrated at 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. |
| 2013 | Afghanistan Football Federation | Solidarity in football against all odds through the after-effects of war, disorder and conflict. |
| 2012 | Uzbekistan Football Association | Showing that fair play and competition are not mutually exclusive but complement each other. |
| 2011 | Japan Football Association | Enduring hardships in wake of 2011 Japan earthquake, while winning the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. |
| 2010 | Haiti women's national under-17 football team | Enduring hardships in wake of 2010 Haiti earthquake. |
| 2009 | Bobby Robson | Posthumously awarded for commitment to fair play shown throughout his career as a player and coach. |
| 2008 | Turkish Football Federation | Encouraging dialogue between two countries which otherwise do not have any form of diplomatic relationship. |
| 2007 | Barcelona | Rejecting lucrative shirt sponsorship deals and instead carrying the UNICEF logo. |
| 2006 | Fans of the 2006 FIFA World Cup | Fans' fair play, mutual respect, and special atmosphere created inside and outside the stadiums. |
| 2005 | Community of Iquitos, Peru | Wholehearted support of the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, and contribution to football. |
| 2004 | Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (Brazilian Football Confederation) | Recognition of the "Match for Peace" played by the national teams of Brazil and Haiti, where tickets were offered in exchange for guns. |
| 2003 | Fans of Celtic FC, Scotland | Exemplary behaviour in the 2003 UEFA Cup Final, despite Celtic losing 3–2 in extra-time to Porto. |
| 2002 | Football communities of Japan and Korea Republic | Demonstrating a spirit of brotherhood and sportsmanship by co-hosting the 2002 FIFA World Cup. |
| 2001 | Paolo Di Canio, Italy | Taking ball out of play with his hands, when opposing goalkeeper Paul Gerrard was injured on the ground. |
| 2000 | Lucas Radebe | For working with children in South Africa and his commitment to the fight against racism in football. |
| 1999 | New Zealand's football community | For their efforts in making the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship a success. |
| 1998 | United States Soccer Federation Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran | For sportsmanship during their 1998 FIFA World Cup match - despite political tensions between their countries for nearly 20 years. |
| Irish Football Association | For efforts to reunite the Catholic and Protestant communities, in a match in Belfast between Cliftonville and Linfield. | |
| 1997 | Irish supporters | For their exemplary behaviour during the World Cup preliminary match against Belgium. |
| Jozef Žovinec (Slovak amateur player) | For 60 years of amateur football without receiving a yellow card. | |
| Julie Foudy | For her efforts against child labour. | |
| 1996 | George Weah | For demonstrating his love for the game and spreading the message of Fair Play around the world. |
| 1995 | Jacques Glassmann | For his courageous attitude as whistleblower in the bribery case between Olympique de Marseille and his team US Valenciennes. |
| 1994 | Not awarded | |
| 1993 | Nándor Hidegkuti | Hidegkuti won the award for his model behavior as a player and coach. |
| Football Association of Zambia | For the efforts of the reconstituted national team in the wake of 1993 Zambia national team air disaster. | |
| 1992 | Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football Association (Royal Belgian Football Association) | For promoting fair play with its campaign "Football in Peace" and the aid project "Casa Hogar" in Toluca, Mexico. |
| 1991 | Real Federación Española de Fútbol (Royal Spanish Football Federation) | In recognition of the exemplary way the government, media, schools, artists and sponsors were all involved in fair play activities. |
| Jorginho | For his model behaviour both on and off the field. | |
| 1990 | Gary Lineker | For receiving neither a yellow or red card for his entire 16-year career as a professional footballer. |
| 1989 | Trinidadian and Tobagonian supporters | For their sporting behavour, despite a loss to the US in their final match in the 1989 CONCACAF Championship. |
| 1988 | Frank Ordenewitz | For admitting handball and therefore giving away a penalty in a match between 1. FC Köln and Werder Bremen. |
| Spectators of the 1988 Seoul Olympic football tournament | For the fans' sporting and composed behaviour at the Olympic football tournament. | |
| 1987 | Dundee United's fans (Scotland) | Recieved in honor of Dundee United's fans good behaviour towards winners IFK Göteborg in the UEFA Cup Final, in particular for staying behind and applauding the opposition players and fans when they won the Cup. |
Related Pages
- Winners of the European national leagues.
- Ballon d'Or Home
- Comparison of three player of the year awards
- Football Awards Lists
- More Soccer Winners Lists
- The golden shoe / golden boot winners from each World Cup event.
- The rugby league Golden Boot Award is for the best rugby league player in the world.
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