This report by SOS Racismo explores racism and discrimination in sport in Spain. It acknowledges the power of sport to promote social inclusion and combat discrimination, while highlighting how existing structures and practices can inadvertently perpetuate racism. The report emphasises the need for a collective commitment from sports federations, public institutions, clubs, media, and individuals to eradicate racism and foster an inclusive and respectful sports environment for all.

The study is framed within the broader EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020-2025 and the Strategic Framework for Citizenship and Inclusion against Xenophobia and Racism (2021-2027). It adopts a multifaceted approach to understanding the complexity of racism in sports, examining various types of discrimination, identifying areas where racism is reproduced, and analysing attitudes and responses to this issue.

To gather in-depth data, the research employs a methodology which includes:

• 401 surveys conducted among sports agents, providing insights into their experiences and perceptions of racism;
• 6 focus groups with 39 participants from various sectors, including sports agents, legal and social professionals, and institutional officials, to explore strategies and recommendations for addressing structural racism;
• In-depth interviews with 6 key experts in sports, institutional, social, journalistic, sociological, and academic fields;
• analysis of legal cases, news articles, and policy documents to provide comprehensive contextual information and understand the structures and policies contributing to racism in sports.

Key Findings

Racism in Spanish sports is pervasive, manifesting in direct, indirect, and structural forms. The research highlights various forms of discrimination experienced by athletes, coaches, and others involved in sports, including: 

• Direct discrimination: This is the most evident form of racism, including racial slurs, taunts, abuse, physical assaults, and harassment based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.
• Indirect discrimination: This subtler form is often unintentional but disproportionately impacts racialised athletes. It includes seemingly neutral policies or practices that disadvantage certain groups, such as lack of consideration for religious observances, language barriers, and lack of protocols to manage diversity.
• Structural discrimination: This refers to systemic inequalities embedded in sports institutions. These inequalities lead to underrepresentation and limited opportunities for racialised athletes in various aspects, including team selection, coaching opportunities, and leadership positions. Structural racism creates an environment where racialised athletes face systemic obstacles and biases affecting their advancement and full potential in sports.

The research identified specific areas within the sports context where racism is reproduced and perpetuated:

• During matches: Racial slurs from fans, opponents, and even teammates are often directed at racialised athletes.
• In locker rooms: This is a place where racist jokes, exclusive language, and discrimination between teammates can occur, often unreported or unaddressed.
• In sporting institutions: The lack of diversity in leadership positions within federations, clubs, and sports organisations contributes to the reproduction of institutional racism. Additionally, inadequate enforcement of anti-discrimination policies and lack of robust reporting mechanisms perpetuate the problem.
• In the media: Media coverage and online comments often perpetuate racial stereotypes and biases, creating a negative environment for racialised athletes. The research highlights the influence of media discourse in shaping public perceptions and its role in perpetuating racist attitudes and behaviors.

Data shows the disproportionate impact of racism on specific racialised groups, highlighting a hierarchy within the experience of racism. For example, while Latin American athletes report experiencing racism, their experiences are often minimised compared to those of Black African athletes, who face the "heaviest racial burden". This intersection of race and nationality underscores the multifaceted nature of racism and how it manifests differently depending on specific contexts.

Another area of concern is the treatment of people in irregular situations in the Spanish sports contexts. The research identifies significant barriers to their participation, including difficulties in obtaining federation licenses. This exclusion from organised sports not only denies them recreational opportunities and the social benefits of sports but also contributes to their marginalisation and perpetuates structural racism.

Policy Recommendations

To address structural racism and promote racial justice in Spanish sports, the report proposes the following policy recommendations:

Federations, associations, and clubs

• Develop and implement comprehensive anti-discrimination policies and protocols with a clear commitment to racial justice.
• Provide mandatory training on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism for all staff, including coaches, referees, administrators, and athletes.
• Establish clear and accessible mechanisms for reporting racist incidents, protecting victims from retaliation, and providing them with support and accompaniment.
• Promote diversity at all levels of sports, from leadership positions and coaching structures to the athletes themselves.
• Implement an effective and consistent sanction system for acts of racism, ensuring accountability and deterrence.
• Collaborate with civil society organisations, anti-racist groups, and racialised communities to develop inclusive intervention strategies and programmes.
• Recognise and celebrate the diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds within sports, promoting an environment where differences are valued and respected.

Public institutions:

• Enact comprehensive organic laws against racism that address structural racism with an intersectional perspective, ensuring protection and redress for victims of racial discrimination.
• Ensure full implementation of Law 15/2022 on equal treatment and non-discrimination, focusing on its impact on racialised and migrant people and addressing both direct and indirect forms of discrimination.
• Amend Law 39/2022 on sports to remove barriers to participation for athletes in irregular situations, particularly in grassroots sports, promoting inclusion and recognising everyone's right to recreation.
• Allocate sufficient resources for anti-racism programmes and initiatives in sports, supporting civil society organisations and grassroots initiatives that promote racial justice.
• Integrate anti-racist education into school curricula and youth sports programmes, promoting understanding, empathy, and challenging racist attitudes and behaviors from a young age.
• Develop and implement comprehensive public policies that address the root causes of racism in sports, targeting structural inequalities and promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for all.

Media and public discourse

• Promote responsible media coverage that avoids perpetuating racial stereotypes and biases, ensuring fair and accurate representation of athletes of all races and ethnicities.
• Encourage diversity in newsrooms, providing opportunities for journalists from underrepresented backgrounds and promoting diverse perspectives in sports coverage.
• Provide training for journalists on how to cover sports with a race-sensitive lens, raising awareness of implicit biases and the harmful effects of racist language and narratives.
• Challenge racist language and narratives in sports commentary and public discourse, promoting anti-racist discourse and countering racist attitudes and behaviors.
• Highlight the stories and experiences of racialised athletes, promoting a more inclusive representation of sports and challenging dominant narratives that often marginalise and stereotype certain groups.
• Collaborate with anti-racist experts and organisations to ensure accurate and sensitive coverage of racial issues in sports.

Situation of people in irregular situations

• Recognise and defend the right of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, to participate in organised sports, promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities.
• Facilitate access to federation licenses for athletes in irregular situations, particularly at the grassroots level, removing barriers that hinder their participation and ensuring their right to recreation.
• Work with civil society organisations and advocacy groups to provide support and advocacy for racialised and migrant athletes, including those in irregular situations, ensuring the protection of their rights and well-being.
• Address concerns related to human trafficking in sports by implementing safeguarding measures while ensuring that immigration policies do not unjustly exclude athletes in irregular situations from participating in organised sports.