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The “Nine values cup” is a special prize given by the Football for Friendship (F4F) programme which is awarded to the most socially responsible professional football club.
This year the winner was chosen by a vote in the same 64 countries that participate in the “F4F”, a social project consisting of several events that connect 12-year-olds from around the world through football. Young voters were invited to pick from a shortlist of clubs which show their commitment to the F4F values: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour.
Fourteen professional teams made it onto the shortlist: Real Madrid, Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Liverpool , Manchester United, Ajax, Borussia, Schalke 04, Zenit, River Plate, Chapecoense, New York and Red Star.
Two hundred thousand fans of the F4F programme from all over the world took part in the next round of voting, organised on social media: the results saw Real Madrid, Juventus and Milan move into the final. The final decision was made at the F4F International Forum in Saint-Petersburg where some lucky youngsters, chosen to represent their countries, were meeting for the biggest event of the project. Real Madrid came out as winners, meaning that the Nine Values Cup will now travel to Madrid.
9 Values Cup for the implementations of the social initiatives at The #GAZPROM #F4F INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FORUM 2017#FOOTBALL4FRIENDSHIP pic.twitter.com/jp4p4vLp7J
— FOOTBALL4FRIENDSHIP (@Football4F) July 4, 2017
The cup itself depicts a young footballer holding the Earth, which looks like a soccer ball. This symbolises what the F4F programme is all about: that the young participants will go back home, not just as fans of football, but as ambassadors of the core values which move our planet forward.