"We’re showing football is accessible to everyone" – FIFPRO Player Impact Award winners Noemie Carage and Lena Goetsch

Noemie Carage (Dijon FCO) and Lena Goetsch (FC Fleury) are the winners of the 2025 FIFPRO Player Impact Award, an accolade recognising initiatives that create a meaningful difference in people’s lives. 

Carage and Goetsch founded Football For All (Tous Au Foot) when both were at French club Dijon. The initiative gives youth and adults with disabilities the chance to play football twice a week.

The pair personally support the programme by joining the football sessions and by partnering with sponsors to host inclusive events, including an annual tournament that now welcomes around 100 players. FIFPRO caught up with Carage and Goetsch to hear more about the initiative and their reaction to winning the award.

FIFPRO: Where did the idea to create Tous Au Foot come from?

Noemie Carage: In 2019, as part of my preparation for my football instructor's certificate – a UEFA B coaching diploma – I not only had to propose a project related to my training as an educator, but also implement it within my club, Dijon FCO, with whom I was in my first year of contract. The idea of working with young girls and boys with disabilities came to me naturally. This led to the creation of an initial tournament in which some 80 young people took part. This was followed by football workshops in specialised institutions in the region, and I saw how committed and enthusiastic the young people and their educators were. Sharing intense moments of emotion and happiness with them gave meaning to this wonderful human adventure, which exceeded my expectations and demonstrated the interest and need for sport among young people with disabilities.

Lena Goetsch: As part of my master's degree in adapted physical activities, I had to complete a 600-hour internship, and it was only natural that I decided to do it at Dijon FCO, where I had been under contract for three years. In 2022, there was a clear desire, both within the club and in the city of Dijon, to develop sport for all, including people with disabilities. This was perfectly in line with my training and made it easier to set up an internal structure within the club and a specific programme around football for young people with disabilities. It all started with Morgan Martins, one of my team-mates and a sports teacher, just as Noemie was leaving the club. Two years later, in 2024, Morgan left Dijon and Noemie returned. She immediately joined the adventure.

How has Tous Au Foot evolved over the years?

Lena Goetsch: Tous Au Foot is now a fully-fledged section of Dijon FCO and is part of the French Football Federation's recreational football programme.

Noemie Carage: While none of the young people were licensed at the beginning, this season there are 70 of them. So, there is no difference between them and the other players in the club. It may seem trivial, but it's a kind of recognition for both the young people and for us.

What are your various roles within Tous Au Foot?

Lena Goetsch: From the creation of Tous Au Foot in 2022 to the summer of 2025, there was always a duo at the head of the section. And we always worked as a pair, regardless of the nature of the work to be done and the decisions to be made: on the pitch with the two weekly sessions, or off the pitch with the organisation of the annual tournament and all the administrative work, because we are responsible for the entire management of the section.

Noemie Carage: Since Lena left Dijon for FC Fleury a few months ago, our organisation has obviously changed, mainly in terms of the sporting side of things, as administrative matters can be dealt with remotely. We knew that one person alone, even with the strong involvement of the specialist coaches, could not manage the two weekly training sessions, as there was no question of offering our 70 members any less in terms of service, listening and sharing.

Fortunately, since Lena left, I have been able to count on the support of other players from the club for the Thursday session, who naturally decided to help us and agreed to take turns attending. This is a good thing because Thursday's training session is the busiest. And I must admit that I am very much looking forward to the arrival of an intern who will be working alongside me on Mondays. In any case, there was no way the adventure could end just because one of us had left the club.

How does French player union UNFP support your work?

Lena Goetsch: The UNFP's presence and support for us is not limited, although this is important, to the financial contribution of the French union, which, along with others, has enabled us to operate since the beginning of this adventure. Since March 2025, the UNFP Solidarity Committee has taken over. But fundamentally, nothing has changed.

Noemie Carage: Lena is right to point out that the UNFP's help goes beyond the limits of our budget. The union, through its social networks, helps us to publicise our work and constantly promotes the work we do. The UNFP's presence at the events we organise is a sign of support that we truly appreciate. Even though we are passionate and determined, it is important to feel supported in this way. We also feel supported by the entire Dijon club, which has been fully behind us from the start and at all levels.

What do you find most rewarding about working with young people with disabilities?

Noemie Carage: Every moment is a real moment of happiness. All their smiles and laughter give us incredible energy. As Lena and I often say, every minute we spend with them reminds us why we do all this for them. They are also particularly communicative and don't hesitate to express the joy and happiness they feel when playing football. We receive so much more than we can give them in terms of emotion, sincerity, simplicity and sharing. They teach us a real-life lesson every time. Every single moment.

How do you feel about seeing your efforts recognised by the Player Impact Award?

Lena Goetsch: First of all, we are immensely proud to be recognised at a global level by FIFPRO. Although there are two of us being honoured, we cannot help but share this award with all those who have made it possible for Tous Au Foot to be recognised in this way: Morgan Martins, the entire Dijon club, the successive interns, the specialised institutions and their educators, whose commitment and enthusiasm are incredible. And, of course, all the children. We think they will all agree with us: this award should not be seen as an achievement, but as an encouragement to continue on this path. To do more and do even better.

Do you think footballers are in a unique position to have an impact on the lives of others? 

Lena Goetsch: As professional players, Noemie and I believe that we have much more credibility and visibility. This makes us role models for certain people. Our role, then, is to embody the values of sport: respect, solidarity, commitment and cohesion. But this must go beyond the boundaries of a football pitch and the idea of performance that is specific to all sports. These values must also serve as a guide in everyday life. Ours and that of the majority.

Noemie Carage: With Tous Au Foot, we are showing that football is accessible to everyone. And we would love for our initiative in Dijon to inspire other clubs and players to set up facilities for people with disabilities.