"Players of Balkan origin in Swiss football: A successful integration?"

To answer this question, an exceptional evening has been organized by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) in collaboration with the Museum of Art and History of Neuchâtel, within the series of events called “Printemps Culturel 2017: « Carrefour Sarajevo »”.

The strong presence of players from the former Yugoslavia in the Swiss national football team raises two interesting phenomena. Firstly, the migratory consequences of a conflict which since the 1990’s has led to 300,000 people moving to settle in Switzerland. Secondly, forms of affirmative integration into the national community, through the sphere of sporting activity. These points of debate will be illuminated during a round table discussion which will bring together specialists in the field of football player migration.

The round table will include Gérard Castella, coach of the Swiss U19 national football team and former coach of Neuchâtel Xamax, Bashkim Iseni who is director of Albinfo.ch and a specialist in Balkan diasporas, Edmond Isoz who is a former director of the Swiss Football League and former European Professional Football Leagues board member, as well as Dr Raffaele Poli, Head of the CIES Football Observatory.

Date: 27th April 2017 at 6:30pm

Venue: History and Art Museum of Neuchâtel, Esplanade Léopold-Robert 1, 2000 Neuchâtel.

This event is free to attend.

For more information, please contact: [email protected] or telephone + 41 (0) 32 718 39 00

We very much look forward to welcoming you to this special event.