The aim is to use football as a mouthpiece to promote positive values and end hatred in society.

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LaLiga and FEMP join forces in the fight against hate in football

LaLiga and the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) have taken a firm step to combat hate speech in football, not only in the stadiums, but also in the daily lives of fans. Both entities have presented a Decalogue that seeks, from local governments, to eradicate discriminatory attitudes and promote an inclusive and respectful environment around the beautiful game and in society in general.

The initiative is based on a clear fact: the majority of sports facilities in Spain are owned by municipalities. This means that local councils have a crucial role in the management of the spaces where sport is practised, and with this Decalogue, they are committed to ensuring that these places promote diversity, respect and equality. In short, the aim is to use football as a tool to educate and promote positive values, not only in the sporting sphere, but also in the community.

The collaboration between LaLiga and the FEMP is not limited to good intentions. The Decalogue, which was presented after the last meeting of the FEMP Sports Commission, establishes concrete measures for local governments to work hand in hand with football clubs, associations and other sports entities. The aim is to create environments that guarantee freedom and respect for the dignity of all people, regardless of their origin, gender or culture.

One of the strengths of this initiative is its focus on the integration of people from different cultures and backgrounds in sport. LaLiga and the FEMP recognise the power of football to unite people from diverse backgrounds and see it as a unique opportunity to promote inclusion. Municipalities will not only ensure that their sports facilities are safe and free from prejudice, but also support programmes that encourage the participation of immigrants and people from different cultures in sport.

The aim is to ensure that football is not only a place for competition, but also a place where equality and respect are promoted, both on the playing fields and in schools and other places of coexistence. The local councils, through this agreement, undertake to implement initiatives to facilitate this integration and to collaborate actively with the clubs to ensure that offensive messages have no place.

In a context where football has been the scene of acts and messages of hate on more than one occasion, LaLiga and the FEMP have made it clear that they will not tolerate any type of discriminatory discourse. The Decalogue includes a firm condemnation of any manifestation of hatred, be it racial, gender, sexual orientation or any other form of discrimination. And it is not just about words. The idea is that local governments work to ensure that sports and social spaces are always free of verbal or physical violence.

One of the messages is that sport has an impact far beyond the field of play. Through football, society can be educated in values of respect and tolerance. For this reason, the Decalogue also includes recognition of the important contribution that immigrants have made and continue to make in the sporting, economic and cultural spheres in Spain.

This agreement between LaLiga and the FEMP reinforces the idea that football is much more than a sport. It is a tool for social transformation that can have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people. According to José Antonio Montero, LaLiga's Director of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations, this collaboration with the municipalities is key to ensuring that football continues to be a space for inclusion and respect.

For his part, Luis Martínez-Sicluna, secretary general of the FEMP, highlighted the importance of local governments taking an active role in promoting these values, as, by managing the majority of the country's sports facilities, they have the capacity to generate real change in communities.