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More than 700 initiatives over eight years undertaken by LALIGA
Mumbai: More than 700 initiatives and projects have been undertaken by LALIGA and its clubs since the 2015/16 season to help eradicate hatred and racism both on and off the pitch. They all aim to promote an inclusive and tolerant society from the bottom up through education, prevention and taking firm action. With these three cornerstones of LALIGA VS, the project developed by LALIGA and the clubs seeks to inspire and raise awareness among fans through the values of football in order to build a society free of hate.
LALIGA VS (laligavs.com) was created with a dual mission: to give a voice to the work that LALIGA and the clubs have been carrying out continuously for more than eight years to build a more tolerant society, and to serve as an engine for the creation of new initiatives that will help end violent behaviour and hateful attitudes in society. This can be done both within the clubs and in collaboration with other institutions and leagues, such as Asobal and LNFS, as well as groups such as Aficiones Unidas.
Eight years of progress
For almost a decade, both LALIGA and its clubs have been involved in hundreds of projects that are now reflected in LALIGA VS. Some of them are regularly repeated, such as lectures and training sessions given by LALIGA’s Integrity and Security department, and the Future Fans project organised by the FUNDACIÓN. During this period, a total of more than 150 training courses have been given to clubs, youth players, students, coaches, and members of the National Police Force, to name but a few.
Other long-term initiatives include the launch of M.O.O.D, the Monitor for the Observation of Hate in Sport, which measures the conversation and the level of hate and racism on social media. At present, the latest M.O.O.D index (Matchday 15) is 5.4 out of 10, the lowest figure of the season. This number shows that the conversation on social media is becoming more respectful and tolerant week by week, not least as a result of the awareness-raising activities carried out by LALIGA and its clubs.
Some one-off but high-impact campaigns have also taken place, such as those carried out earlier this season at LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA HYPERMOTION grounds, where LALIGA VS armbands were handed out to club captains, fans in the stands, and LALIGA GENUINE players; and the inclusion of stickers in stadiums with QR codes inviting fans to provide information related to any discriminatory acts they might witness.
The clubs have also helped take these projects to all parts of Spain. Over the last five years, LALIGA teams have implemented 44 campaigns aimed at curbing hate speech. Some of them are included in the framework of LALIGA VS Racism, such as the VCF World project, carried out by Valencia CF to end discrimination and racist insults. Others have been designed to curb homophobia both on and off the football pitch, such as the day against LGTBI-phobia organised by FC Barcelona. And others are aimed at stopping hate, such as Atlético de Madrid’s We love football campaign. Each has a place in LALIGA VS, a platform created among other reasons, to give them greater visibility.
Since 2015, when the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport and the Spanish Federation’s Competition Committee began to receive reports of abusive chants heard in professional football stadiums, LALIGA’s Legal, and Integrity and Safety Offices received 505 complaints of such incidents.
In addition to these complaints, since LALIGA launched its reporting channel for abusive behaviour last year, three allegations are being examined and investigated by LALIGA’s Legal, and Integrity and Security Departments. This underlines the importance of fans, and society in general, joining the project and contributing to the eradication of hate and abuse in sport and beyond.
In parallel to the implementation of all these initiatives, LALIGA has formally requested an amendment to Law 19/2007 of 11 July 2007 (against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport) and Law 39/2022 of 30 December 2002 (on sport) in order to have formal jurisdiction in these matters.
A Christmas campaign to help inspire children
As part of the prevention and awareness actions, LALIGA VS has developed an awareness campaign so that fans who come every weekend to the stadiums are aware that every gesture has consequences among children. As with this initiative, others will continue to be organised both by the clubs and by LALIGA, aimed at building a society free of hatred and abuse.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
