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Vegan footballer Hector Bellerin has invested in the world’s first all-vegan football club – League Two Forest Green Rovers – saying the club is ‘showing others the way’.
The Arsenal defender first adopted a plant-based diet in 2016 for health reasons, but since then, has spoken out about his ethical motivations, saying ‘sustainability of the environment and animal cruelty now motivate me just as much as health’.
Forest Green Rovers (FGR), which went fully vegan in 2015 and became the world’s first carbon-neutral sports club in 2017, has been deemed the world’s most environmentally friendly team by Fifa and the United Nations.
‘Showing others the way’
Now Bellerin has become the second-largest shareholder in FGR, saying: “Forest Green are showing others the way.
“So many people feel there’s no solution to the world’s problems, but Forest Green are already doing plenty. I’m so excited to be part of the FGR family. I’ll be helping where I can, supporting people who want to change the world for the better.
“When I first played Forest Green Rovers [in 2014], all I knew about them was that it was a long way from London! As I heard more about the club and its work, I knew I wanted to meet them and be part of it.”
? ???????? ????? ???@Arsenal defender @HectorBellerin has become the second-largest shareholder at the club.
Welcome to FGR, Hector!#WeAreFGR ?
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) September 8, 2020
‘Looking forward to working with him’
According to reports, Bellerin will be working with FGR’s chairman Dale Vince to ‘raise the environmental agenda in football – among clubs, leagues and fans’.
Dale Vince said: “I like Hector’s approach, his personal journey and the things he’s trying to do – they make sense.
“I’m looking forward to working with him on FGR and this wider agenda we have a shared interest in.”
