It is not enough to not be racist, you have to be combative against those who insult or express racist attitudes. That is the conclusion defended in this episode of the second season of the LALIGA VS video podcasts by the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, and the president of LALIGA, Javier Tebas. Spanish professional football and the Government have decided to join forces in an initiative that seeks to eradicate hatred and build a more inclusive and egalitarian society, “a milestone with no turning back,” Saiz defines it.
Last week the agreement was sealed, which also implies a primary form of collaboration: technology. The Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia (Oberaxe), which depends on Saiz’s ministry, will be able to use MOOD, the social network analysis tool promoted by LALIGA and which, through artificial intelligence, monitors hate speech posted on networks. social. “To make decisions, the first thing is to know what is happening. Because what happens on social networks can hit the streets,” explains Saiz.
In the talk with the minister, the president of LALIGA highlighted the crucial role of football in Spanish society “as a speaker”, not only because it is one of the main entertainment industries and a majority passion, but because of its demonstrated ability to “be responsible” and move society as a whole. “Football hurts me,” Tebas confessed, paraphrasing the philosopher Miguel de Unamuno, while explaining that, although in general he considers that we are a tolerant and open country, we need to take the step of acting against those who commit hate crimes.
“Zero tolerance,” they both agree. In fact, Saiz says, one of the things that makes him happiest is watching his son when he plays with his team, with Afro-descendant teammates. “Above all is the unity and joy of the game,” he says; to which President Tebas responds, also showing his more personal side: “My oldest grandson is Moroccan, his name is Nasser.”
This is a path in which leaders are needed, references like Vinícius Jr. or Iñaki Williams, who inspire the younger generations, as Tebas points out. That is also the transformative power of football. “But we need to accompany these leaders,” says Minister Saiz. “They must find support.”
This is a fight that is not limited to stadiums or classrooms: today the muddiest terrain may be digital. Internet and social networks, where hate speech proliferates. One in every five comments published about LALIGA last season was a hate message[DM1] as detected by the MOOD tool. “We should not get used to insults!” says Saiz. Hate has no place inside or outside the stadiums.
Therefore, to fulfill the mission that both propose of not only attacking what already exists and occurs, but also preventing today’s children from reproducing those behaviors as adults of tomorrow, the agreement also covers the dissemination of pedagogical materials that take advantage of the good values of sport for childhood education. A match that must be won on all fronts and with everyone’s commitment.
The tool that measures the level of hate in conversations around football day by day
