Italy uses football to promote prison reintegration

Various sports-based initiatives in Italy are utilizing football to promote social reintegration and discuss prison conditions.

In Montorio, the third ‘Trofeo Liberi Liberi Art. 27’ and the ‘Memorial Matteo Concetti’ will take place on October 3. Organized by Liberi Liberi Art. 27 and Progetto Serena Aps, the event features six teams, including law enforcement (prison police and carabinieri), Hellas Verona fans, therapeutic communities, and asylum seekers. The event aims to use sport to break down barriers and facilitate discussions regarding the dignity, rights, and conditions of the penitentiary system.

Separately, at the Milano-Bollate prison, the ‘Vite in Campo – La Partita’ event was held. This initiative, which evolved from projects related to Milano Cortina 2026, featured a match between a Fiera Milano representative team and a team composed of inmates. Fiera Milano President Carlo Bonomi participated in the event, emphasizing that the project uses football to teach values such as respect for rules, responsibility, and teamwork to aid in social reintegration.