A SHARED love of the beautiful game will see Teessiders and refugees play against each other in a community football match.

To coincide with Refugee Week 2011, the Hope Foundation, in partnership with the Middlesbrough Black and Minority Ethnic Network, including Cleveland Police, is organising a tournament at Teesside University on Saturday, from 11am to 3pm.

Sara Mirsalehi, integration and education officer for the Hope Foundation, said: "The tournament aims to bring indigenous and refugee communities together through sports activities to try and understand each other's cultures in an informal environment and through activities of interest."

PC Jeff Lillystone, of Middlesbrough police, added: "This is a great opportunity for communities from various nationalities to unite and have fun at this seven-a-side football event. We have had lots of interest from teams made up of nationals from Nigeria, Iraq, Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and Iran.

"This will give teams and nationalities a chance to be sporting ambassadors for their cultures, bringing a diversity rich event to Refugee Week."

For details, or to enter a team into the competition, which is being held at the university campus in Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, call Ms Mirsalehi on 01642-232220 or email saramirsalehi@hopefoundation.org.uk