LALIGA meets with the Council of Europe and the High Council of Sport to advance in the fight against hate in sport

In the framework of the "Combating Hate Speech in Sport" joint project co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe in partnership with the High Council of Sports in Spain, LALIGA has met the Council of Europe and the High Council of Sports.

The aims of the meeting have been the identification of synergies between the Council of Europe ‘Combating hate speech in sport’ project and ‘Sport IS Respect’ campaign with LALIGA’s initiative, LALIGA VS to fight hate in sport and set up next steps. Olympic athlete, Aauri Lorena Bokesa Abia, ‘Sport IS Respect’ Ambassador of the project was also present at the meeting.

The project aims to combat hate speech in sport by providing technical assistance to public authorities selected countries and other sport stakeholders to develop comprehensive strategies within a human rights framework. Participating countries are France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro and Spain. Among its areas of action, the project provides tailored-made guidance leading to the adoption of national strategies to combat hate speech in sport involving all key stakeholders in the partner countries, and the development of the ‘Sport IS Respect’ campaign.

The initiative LALIGA VS, which is based on three pillars: education, prevention and action, seeks to inspire and sensitise fans through the values of football, values and objectives that LALIGA VS shares with the ‘Sport IS Respect’ project.

This meeting with the Council of Europe and High Council of Sports confirms once again LALIGA’s commitment to continue collaborating with European and national authorities in the fight against hate in sport.

LALIGA hosted the review of different international initiatives and campaign visuals with the aim to designing a joint campaign to raise awareness about the collective responsibility in combating hate speech in sport.