"This match shows the union between Spain and Brazil"

Spain and Brazil will meet in March, a friendly match with a huge global impact that will serve to reinforce both countries' commitment to the fight against racism. Under the slogan “Una misma piel” (One skin), the event will bring together two of the world's top international powers on Spanish soil, an initiative promoted by Luis Rubiales and Ednaldo Rodrigues, presidents of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Brazilian Football Confederation.

MORE INFORMATION: In March, Spain-Brazil against Racism

"We are happy, both Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF, and myself," summarized Luis Rubiales, who is as sensitive as anyone in the fight against racism as demonstrated after the sad events of a few weeks ago with the Brazilian Vinicius as the protagonist. "We agreed that we had to work together, that we had to build things, that it was not only to condemn what had happened, we had to work together. It occurred to us that having this match between two of the best teams in the world is something that shows our union, our determined joint fight against everything that harms the values of football. It is a top match that both Spanish fans and the many Brazilian fans among us will be able to enjoy.”

President Rubiales, who led the “Racistas, fuera del fútbol”, (Racists, out of football) campaign, is convinced that we have to be consistent in order to, among all of us, exclude those people who use football as an excuse to spread their hatred. "As I said, we have had regrettable outbreaks. These people are not football fans, we have to get these people out of the world of football. The vast majority of Spaniards are good people, we like to live together. No matter your race, your creed, your religion, your gender... That is what we want to give, a signal to the world that football is building, football is values. It is something positive and not the opposite.

The head of the RFEF insists that in football there are no colors and defends the values of Spain as a society and as a country. "We are one skin. It doesn't matter where you are from, Spain is a welcoming place where unfortunately there are some who tarnish the rest of the country. We want to be seen as a country where everyone can come and enjoy themselves and football is an essential part of our culture."

The Federation is actively engaged in the fight for social causes, always trying to improve from the grassroots with a firm commitment. "We dedicate a lot of resources to the youngest players, girls and boys who are just starting out in football. Also to the territorial federations, which, together with the RFEF, put on the table many plans for education, training, coexistence...", explains President Rubiales. "We also invest heavily in social actions through our CSR department. We want everything we dedicate to be even more, that we contribute to making a better society. The world of football has to be present in all issues and the lack of education and violence have to be eradicated. We are going to do everything in our power.

As Luis Rubiales pointed out in his institutional statement, and in the face of cases of racism such as the one mentioned above, the new Sports Law opens up a new scenario in the disciplinary field. "Without a doubt, with the new Sports Law we put ourselves on a par with other federations," celebrates the RFEF president. "Before, with the previous Law, we had conflicts of competence, higher legal orders that prevented us from enforcing sanctions... As this regulation becomes more complete, at the disciplinary level it will allow us to act in a clear-cut manner from the beginning. And that is what we want, we are very happy with this regulatory change and the new Sports Law".