THE CREATION OF THE SECURITY DIRECTORATE

From a security perspective, the 2014/15 season was marked by the confrontation between fan sides near the Vicente Calderón football stadium on the 30th of November, which ended in the death of one of Deportivo de La Coruña’s supporters before the match between Atlético de Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruña.

This incident gave rise to a public declaration by institutions such as the Higher Sports Council, the State Secretariat on Security and LaLiga on the firm commitment for the eradication of suchlike behaviour, which not only includes physical violence and verbal abuse but also other forms of intolerant, xenophobic and racist behaviour.

Such commitment derived in a first action from LaLiga. Namely, the creation of the Security Directorate within LaLiga, headed by Alfredo Lorenzo, Chief Inspector of Spain’s National Police Force (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía), who is currently on unpaid leave and who had been in charge of the National Office for Sports (Oficina Nacional de Deportes) and several other operational roles in the Police Intervention Units (Unidades de Intervención Policial).

Since its creation on the 12th of January 2015, the Security Directorate has been focusing on actions for the eradication of violence in football always aimed at the social commitment that LaLiga undertakes as the competition’s organiser and in response to its responsibility towards society for the development of the best football league in the world in all respects, including security.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE ERADICATION OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR IN FOOTBALL

After the creation of the Security Directorate, the first step was to design a Strategic Plan that would include various measures for the eradication of violence in football organised in accordance with each line of action.

Such Plan is based on solid premises. That is, zero tolerance towards any form of violence, comprehensive fight by LaLiga, full institutional support and collaboration and the bringing about of a cultural mindset change. The Plan based on those ideas is organised according to the following lines of action:

• Communication: campaigns in support and acknowledgement of the referee’s role and work; regular meetings with the Spanish Association of Sport Press; awareness campaigns in collaboration with AFEPE (Fans United) and implementation of a ‘fan’s inbox’.
• Infrastructure: development and implementation of a system of access to the local entertainment stands through biometrics and the improvement of CCTV at the stadiums.
• Legal: preparation of regulations for the sale of tickets and season tickets; issue of brochures on topics dealing with the prevention of violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance; active presence of administrative and disciplinary bodies.
• Security: preparation of a list of violent or potentially violent groups; development of a social media unit; development of training sessions in professional football security for security managers.

MISSION OF THE SECURITY DIRECTORATE

The work of the Security Directorate implies direct action together with the Clubs/SAD’s Security Managers. During this season we have arranged working meetings under LaLiga’s Security Committee. The Committee holds regular meetings in order to deal with security-related topics, avoidance of violence, coordination of responses and project development through working groups.

In this respect meetings were held on the 11th of December 2014, 3rd of February and 9th of June 2015 (exclusive of Security Managers) and seminars on the 24th, 25th and 26th of November in Madrid and on the 23rd and 24th of March in Barcelona with the participation of Security Coordinators, Chairmen of Fan Clubs and Match Managers.

Since its creation, the Security Directorate has been in charge of representing LaLiga during the meetings of the Permanent Committee on behalf of the State Commission against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sports. Likewise it participates in the meetings called for by the Committee on Security, Respect and Tolerance of the RFEF.

And at an international level, the Security Directorate has arranged for LaLiga’s membership of ESSMA (European Stadium and Safety Management Association). Since 1st of April LaLiga is part of the governing board of that association.