In a significant move to tackle hate speech in sports, the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, led by Minister Elma Saiz, and LALIGA, represented by its President Javier Tebas, signed a collaboration agreement on 24 October in Madrid. This partnership aims to specifically target racism and xenophobia, preventing violent incidents and addressing them effectively where they occur.

Recent data from the Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) underscores the urgency of this initiative. There has been a noticeable increase in hate content coinciding with major sporting events, such as high-profile football matches and the Paris 2024 Olympics. In September 2024 alone, 46% of the monitored content incited violence through direct or indirect threats, while 26% portrayed immigrants as a threat. Additionally, 38% of the content discredited target groups based on stereotypes, and 34% dehumanised and severely degraded individuals. Notably, 37% of the hate content targeted individuals from North Africa, 33% targeted immigrants in general, 21% targeted people of African descent, and 13% targeted Muslims.

The agreement between the ministry and LALIGA will extend to communication and awareness campaigns, as well as training modules on racism in grassroots football. Collaborations with the LALIGA Foundation will focus on monitoring, preventing, and raising awareness about hate speech both on social media and in sports environments. Minister Saiz emphasised the global reach of football, stating: 'Football is a powerful platform capable of reaching a global audience and raising awareness about the importance of combating racism, xenophobia, and hate speech in general'.

LALIGA will provide the Ministry with the Monitor for the Observation of Hate in Sports (MOOD) tool, an AI-powered system for monitoring hate speech on social media. This tool will enable OBERAXE to increase the detection of hate content and conduct more comprehensive analyses, informing counter-narrative strategies, training, and public policy development. The LALIGA Foundation will also provide educational materials from the Futura Afición project to raise awareness among young people about the importance of eradicating violence in sports, especially football. Javier Tebas noted that 'the signing of this agreement marks a before and after in the fight against violence and hate in Spain'.

This collaboration represents a significant step forward in creating a safer and more inclusive environment in sports - both for those who are migrants and those who are not - free from hate and violence.