CSD-LFP-RFEF meeting: Agreements reached to combat violence in football

After the meeting held today at the headquarters of the High Council for Sport, the president of the CSD, Miguel Cardenal, announced the agreements reached, along with the Liga de Fútbol Profesional and the Real Federación Española de Fútbol, to eradicate violence from football. "The aim is that in May, when the season ends, the outlook is unrecognisable from what it is today", said Cardenal, who explained to the media the major measures that will come into force from 15 December.

- Partial closure of football stadiums. Specific sections of the stadiums may be closed if actions take place there that are contrary to the conduct described in Law 19/2007 against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport.
- Penalties for verbal abuse. In addition to the arbitration informers and security coordinators a role will be created by the LFP assigned to a person who will attend each match to collect all the required information.
- Removal of points and relegation for clubs. Development of punitive legislation in response to any collaboration, permissiveness or support by clubs/SADs with potentially violent groups or fans.
- Regulation of ticket sales and supporter travel. A list of violent groups will be compiled.

MEASURES TO ADOPT BY THE LFP
Javier Tebas then explained the measures that will be adopted within the LFP, with the creation of four new legal roles that will support this work.

1. Appointment of a LFP Director of Security belonging to the State Security Forces, with material powers to manage and coordinator the federated clubs/SADs' directors of security.
2. Creation of an Intelligence Unit in the LFP, collaborating actively with the State Security Forces in fulfilment of the requirements of Law 19/2007 against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport.
3. Creation of the role of LFP Match Director, with responsibility for verifying and documenting the existence of conduct that promotes or incites violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in football stadiums.
4. Creation of a Control and Monitoring Committee between the Directors of Security of the federated Clubs/SADs, the supporters' clubs federations, the State Security Forces and the LFP Director of Security.

The president of the LFP also announced a series of technological improvements in stadiums such as the installation of entry turnstiles with fingerprint and facial recognition in sections where there are risk factors, and the renewal of the existing CCTV cameras in the stadiums.

Javier Tebas announced that, alongside the Association of Supporters' Federations, a 'Welcome and Good Practices Guide for Supporters' will be compiled, containing a list of expressions, chants and other manifestations that are objectionable and punishable.
Similarly, an Ethical Code will be compiled to improve communication policies in conjunction and coordination with the Spanish Sports Press Association, in order to raise awareness in society on communication for the prevention of violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport. "The events of last Sunday are isolated but sufficiently serious to warrant these measures and send a positive message to enjoy football in a non-violent way", Tebas concluded.

On 11 December, the Canillas Police Complex, in Madrid, will host a meeting between the Security Coordinators of the State Security Forces, the clubs' Directors of Security and the supporters' club federations in order to communicate and discuss these developments. On 15 December all of these articles will be drafted and approved so that the regulations are applicable and in force.

For the LFP, the president Javier Tebas attended accompanied by the first and second vice-presidents, the chief executive of CD Numancia, Víctor Martín and the Club Atlético de Madrid representative Clemente Villaverde. The director of the Integrity Department, Manuel Quintanar, and the Competitions Director, Ricardo Resta, completed the Liga delegation along with Miguel García Caba, of the LFP Legal Department. Miguel Cardenal, president of the High Council for Sport, chaired the meeting together with Ana Muñoz, Director-General of Sport, and Ramón Barba, Deputy Director-General for the Legal System for Sport.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation was represented by Vicente Temprado, president of the Madrid Federation, Marcelino Maté, president of the Castilla y León Federation, and Maximino Martínez, president of the Asturian Football Federation.