Football
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Manchester United's Paul Pogba helps launch UEFA's new Respect campaign

Paul Pogba on Wednesday helped to launch UEFA's new Respect campaign to promote greater inclusion, diversity and accessibility in football.

The Manchester United and France midfielder attended the #EqualGame event with a hashtag of #Equal in his hair and spoke of the importance of the campaign, which has evolved from UEFA's 'No to Racism' initiative.

Combating racism remains a fundamental part of the campaign, which now includes all forms of discrimination and has the support of Real Madrid and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Barcelona and Argentina forward.

Pogba said: "It's all about respect, all about equality everywhere in the world. We're all equal when we play football.

"This campaign, I'm really honoured to do it. We do what we love on the pitch and that's the message we want to give to everyone.

"Outside the pitch you're just you, I'm just Paul, normal Paul.

"We're human beings. We're not gods. We're just normal people who should respect each other because we're all equal.

"The message we can give on the pitch and outside the pitch can help the world.''

Pogba added that he'd have the utmost respect for any player in the Premier League who came out as gay.

Asked if the Prem would provide a safe environment for a gay player, Pogba said: "That's something that I've never seen but why not? It's a human being.

"What he does in his private life has nothing to do with the player. You just have to respect him. Because he respects you, you respect him. That's it.

"It's all about respect. It's all about equality everywhere in the world. We are all equal when we play football."

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin was speaking alongside Pogba, making it clear European football's governing body has a zero tolerance stance on any form of discrimination.

Ceferin wore a T-shirt adorned with the slogan "Everyone can enjoy football, no matter who you are, where you're from or how you play''.

The Slovenian insisted campaigns were all very well, but action must be taken too and UEFA's stance could be tested in forthcoming European club competition. The draw for the group stage of the Champions League takes place in Monaco on Thursday.

Ceferin said: "If you want to be a social fair play organisation you have to clearly say no to racism, to sexism, to homophobia, to any discrimination, to discrimination of disabled people or any other.

"The important thing is that you act. That you don't just make TV spots. It's much more than just football; our power has to be used.''

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