The RFEF President Reaffirms Commitment to Fighting Bullying: “See Football as a Source of Support, Understanding and Solidarity”

“We must eradicate this scourge known as school bullying.” With this firm message, the President of the RFEF opened the Junt@s Somos Más Fuertes (Together We Are Stronger) conference on Monday in Seville. The event was organised by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the City Council of Seville, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Andalusian Football Federation, whose president, Pedro Curtido, was also present.

Dozens of students from different schools across Seville gathered at the Factoría Cultural auditorium in Polígono Sur on the eve of the UEFA qualifier between Spain and Türkiye. The event aimed to raise awareness of relevant social causes, with bullying taking centre stage.

Louzán began his welcome speech by thanking those in attendance:
“Thank you all for being here on such a meaningful and intense Monday morning. Football must give back to society a part of what society has given us, helping to address and redirect social issues. We must eradicate social scourges such as school bullying.”

He called for football to be seen as “a symbol of support, understanding and solidarity.” He also encouraged participation in the positive moment Spanish football is experiencing:
“We are currently number one in the FIFA world rankings in both men’s and women’s football. We are global leaders. Tomorrow we hope to celebrate qualification, and everyone can be part of it through the positive values of sport. That is why we are here: to accompany, to stand together, and to show solidarity.”

Throughout the event, well-known speakers from the fields of sport, violence prevention and mental-health advocacy, such as Jero García and Fundación Blanca president Lola Fernández-Ochoa, shared insights and personal testimonies. Attendees also heard accounts relating to the life and legacy of Olympic medallist Blanca Fernández-Ochoa through her sister.

The initiative also carried a deeply emotional tone, coming just weeks after the tragic death of 14-year-old Sandra Peña in Seville, who took her own life after repeated bullying.

In response to tragedies like Sandra’s, the Junt@s Somos Más Fuertes initiative emphasised the importance of reporting suspected bullying, seeking professional help when mental health is at risk, and supporting inclusive programmes such as Be My Referee, which promotes opportunities for people with diverse abilities in refereeing. The programme was presented by AGF Genuine CEO and RFEF board member, Conxita Esteve, alongside referee Rubén Almazán.

The day concluded with the RFEF President inviting students to Tuesday’s match at La Cartuja Stadium, where awareness activities will continue, echoing a powerful message repeated throughout the event:

“There is no act braver than taking care of one another.”