More than 700 initiatives and projects have been carried out by LaLiga and the clubs since the 2015/16 season to curb on and off-field violence and racism. The aim is to foster an inclusive and tolerant society at the grassroots level through education, prevention, and action. These three pillars—LaLiga VS, the LaLiga project, and the clubs—seek to inspire fans and raise awareness through football values so that society can become free of hate.
LaLiga VS began with a dual mission: to give voice to the ongoing work by LaLiga and its clubs to build a more tolerant society over eight years, and to serve as a driving force for new initiatives. Its reach extends beyond football, collaborating with other leagues and groups such as Asobal, LNFS, and Aficiones Unidas to help end violence in society.
Eight years forward
For nearly a decade, LaLiga and the clubs have implemented hundreds of projects that now form part of LaLiga VS. Some initiatives are regular and ongoing, including talks and trainings conducted by the Integrity and Safety department and the Future Hobby program from the foundation. In total, over 150 training sessions were delivered to young players, students, coaches, and members of public safety services and other communities during this period.
Other efforts are permanent in nature. For example, the social media monitoring tool, the Hate in Sports Monitor, measures speech and gauges levels of violence online. The latest MOOD index indicates a decline in hostile online conversations, reflecting ongoing awareness actions led by LaLiga and the clubs that promote respect and tolerance.
High-impact and targeted initiatives have also taken place, including a season-start program in rural areas. When LaLiga EA SPORTS and LaLiga HYPERMOTION are showcased, armbands are presented to club captains, fans in the stands, and players who embody the campaign. QR code prevention supports are installed in stadiums to invite fans to report violent or hateful acts they witness.
These projects are implemented by clubs across Spain. Over the past five years, LaLiga teams have developed 44 initiatives aimed at stopping hate speech. Many of these are grouped under LaLiga VS Against Racism, with examples such as the World project led by Valencia CF to end discrimination and racial slurs. Other efforts target homophobia inside and outside football fields, like FC Barcelona’s day against LGTBI phobia, and Atlético de Madrid’s We Love Football initiative to stop hate. All of these contribute to LaLiga VS, a platform created to give visibility to such efforts.
Since 2015, concerns about violence, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance in sport have been recorded by the State Commission. The LaLiga Legal, Integrity and Safety department has received hundreds of complaints related to incidents heard at professional stadiums and other venues. In total, 505 complaints have been documented across these areas.
Alongside these complaints, since the launch of the LaLiga violent acts report box, three cases are currently under review by the relevant departments in Legal, Integrity, and Security. The responsiveness of fans and society at large highlights the ongoing role everyone plays in eradicating hatred and violence both inside and outside sport.
Parallel to these activities, LaLiga has urged legislative changes. Law No. 19/2007 of 11 July against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports and Law No. 39/2022 on sports have been a focus for strengthening tools to address such issues.
Christmas campaign to invite and inspire little ones
As part of prevention and awareness work, LaLiga VS conducted a campaign to remind fans that actions in stadiums impact young spectators. This message guides future efforts and the wider club work, toward a society free from hatred and violence.
Like many other initiatives, the clubs, LaLiga, and the foundation will continue their programs with the aim of achieving real, targeted results. The overarching goal remains a society free from hatred and violence.
LaLiga is the world’s largest football ecosystem. It is a private sports association organizing professional and national football competitions, comprising 20 EA SPORTS football clubs/SADs and 22 LaLiga HYPERMOTION clubs. The organization reaches over 200 million followers across 16 social platforms and 20 languages, with a global network of facilities in 41 countries through 11 offices based in Madrid. The foundation carries out social activities, including LALIGA Genuine, the world’s first professional league for players with mental disabilities.