On several occasions, this newspaper has highlighted football’s transformative power, particularly from the perspective of non-violence and solidarity. Football, as a prominent global sport, holds a unique position. On May 7, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed May 25 as World Football Day. This resolution recognized football’s global significance, not only as a sport but also as a powerful instrument in commerce, peace, diplomacy, and international cooperation.
The resolution highlighted the crucial role played by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), along with regional and national football federations, in promoting the growth and inclusivity of the sport. Their efforts have made football a unifying force that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. Furthermore, countries were encouraged to support football and other sports as key drivers for peace, development, and the empowerment of women and girls. Governments were called upon to implement policies and programs aimed at promoting physical activity and sports as essential tools for fostering health, inclusion, and social well-being.
In this regard, FIFA has taken Asturias (Spain) as an example of its work in child protection, recognizing the region’s commitment to creating safe and supportive environments for young players. The key factors behind this success are its foundation on scientific evidence of social impact and the use of a dialogical model, as well as the emphasis on co-creation. This has made Asturias’ child protection protocol stand out as a pioneering model for promoting youth football in a way that prioritizes well-being and safeguards children’s rights.
Editor of Daily 27.
Predoctoral researcher at the Department of Sociology in University of Barcelona.