June 27 (Reuters) - UEFA announced the inaugural recipients of their "FootbALL Awards" on Tuesday, recognising the contribution to social change, given to Belgium's Football Association, the German Football League, Arsenal and former France player Lilian Thuram. The "FootbALL" programme, launched by UEFA at the Champions League final earlier this month, highlights the power of football to drive positive social change across European communities. The Belgian FA (RBFA) was one of the first national associations to establish a comprehensive football social responsibility strategy. The German Football League (DFL) has been recognised for continuous fight against discrimination and for their activities during International Weeks Against Racism, UEFA said. "Their work showcases the importance of leading by example, which is exactly what the FootbALL programme represents," said UEFA Director of Social & Environmental Sustainability Michele Uva.

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Persons: Lilian Thuram, Uva, Anita Kobylinska, Christian Radnedge Organizations: UEFA, Belgium's Football Association, German Football League, Arsenal, Champions League, Belgian FA, Adidas, Social, Environmental, Thomson Locations: France, London, Frankfurt, Germany, Gdansk