LaLiga president Javier Tebas has stated that significant progress has been made in addressing racism in Spanish football, although there is still work to be done to eliminate it. The Spanish Football Federation recently penalized LaLiga club Getafe and third-division side Sestao River for racist incidents at their stadiums.
Racism in football has been a persistent issue in Spain, with instances of Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior facing harassment from opposing fans. Despite these challenges, Tebas emphasized that Spain as a country is not racist and highlighted ongoing efforts to combat racism within the sport.
Tebas acknowledged that while strides have been made in reducing racist behavior in stadiums, isolated incidents continue to occur. He commended the recent disciplinary actions taken by the Spanish FA against clubs involved in racist incidents, including partial stadium closures.
The LaLiga president underscored the importance of protecting players like Vinícius, who have taken a stand against racism and become targets of abuse. Tebas expressed support for players leading the fight against racism and emphasized the need for enhanced measures to prevent and address discriminatory behavior.
Reflecting on past incidents, Tebas recognized the need for more proactive measures to address racism in football. He highlighted the challenges in prosecuting perpetrators of racist acts and stressed the importance of swift and effective deterrents to combat such behavior.
While LaLiga has reported numerous racist incidents to the authorities, Tebas acknowledged that more needs to be done to expedite the process of holding offenders accountable and preventing future occurrences. He emphasized the ongoing commitment of LaLiga to combat racism and protect players from discriminatory behavior.
