The Royal Spanish Football Federation is launching a campaign this Tuesday under the banner Racists outside of football. Its aim is to root out racist and xenophobic attitudes on the field and to raise awareness among fans that insults or discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated for any reason.
Relating to
The campaign Racists stop playing football introduces a symbolic hand raised in a stop gesture inside a multicolored ring. This emblem stands for the diversity present in the country and embodies the federation’s long-standing commitment to equal treatment and non-discrimination, as well as the explicit rejection of attitudes that undermine these values.
It will start at the Copa de la Reina
The initiative, outlined in the 125th circular of the 2022-2023 season, will launch this Tuesday. The opening action takes place at the Municipal Butarque Stadium in Leganes during the first semifinal of the Copa de SM la Reina. The program will extend through the season across national competitions, including the First and Second Divisions, the Queen’s Cup, the First and Second Federations, and the Third Federation, as well as both men’s and women’s futsal leagues at the top levels.
As part of the campaign, a canvas bearing the message Racists, leave football will be displayed on the field before kickoff, with support from players on both sides and match officials. The hashtag will be promoted on RFEF social channels, and the National Professional Football League is encouraged to ensure the tag appears in broadcasts of all League One and Second Division matches.
The RFEF will also coordinate activities in non-professional and grassroots football, with regional federations playing a key role. Players are urged to symbolize their commitment to eradicating racist and xenophobic attitudes through an extended hand gesture signaling a stop.
Calling all football fans
According to the RFEF, the slogan and the symbol are aimed at two audiences. First, anyone who engages in racist or xenophobic behavior—an act described as violence that cannot be tolerated in football or society at large. Second, football fans themselves, who are urged to publicly oppose racism, report discriminatory actions, and, if needed, expose individuals so that a collective effort can restore the sport’s image. The federation emphasizes that these measures are part of a broader, ongoing effort to protect the sport’s integrity.
The circular referenced, number 125, outlines the guiding principles and objectives that govern the campaign. The aim is to ensure all actions promote non-discrimination, curb violence, and counter racism, xenophobia, and intolerance in every setting, including the realm of sexual orientation. The federation calls on all levels of football to cooperate fully and to establish concrete mechanisms that make the campaign effective.