Cádiz CF has solidified its commitment to feminism and LGTBI+ rights by permanently installing Violet Points and Rainbow Points in the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium. This initiative, pioneering in professional Spanish football, allows reporting discriminatory acts and raising awareness among fans against machismo, gender violence, and lgtbifobia. The announcement was made during an event last Sunday, before the match against Castellón.
Cádiz Club de Fútbol held an event last Sunday at the Nuevo Mirandilla Stadium to reaffirm its commitment to feminism and LGTBI+ rights, just before its 2-0 victory over Castellón in matchday 19 of Segunda División. This action marks the success of the 'Estadio de Tolerancia' initiative, launched in August by the Fundación Cádiz CF and the Agrupación Deportiva Ibérica (ADI), which groups LGTBI+ sports entities from Spain and Portugal.
Since the start of the season, Violet Points and Rainbow Points have been set up at home games, where rights defense organizations interact with fans, distribute informative materials, and combat machismo, gender violence, racism, and lgtbifobia. Now, these points are established permanently in the south end of the stadium, making Cádiz CF the first professional Spanish football club with tools to prevent violence and discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. They also enable reporting of machista or lgtbiphobic incidents in the venue.
"Cádiz CF has turned its stadium into the first space in professional Spanish football to feature such tools," the promoters celebrated. LGTBI+ visibility in men's football remains scarce: in 2023, Jakub Jankto was the first active player in the Spanish League to come out, stating on social media: “I am homosexual and I don't want to hide anymore.” Other cases include Alberto Lejárraga Rubio, goalkeeper for UD San Sebastián de los Reyes, who has faced attacks on social media for his sexual orientation, and former referee Jesús Tomillero, who quit refereeing in 2016 after receiving hate for his announcement.
The goals of 'Estadio de Tolerancia' include sensitizing Cádiz fans and society about hate crimes, encouraging participation in social causes, and using football as a tool for social transformation. Víctor Gutiérrez, a visible athlete and socialist deputy, emphasized: “Football has to catch up in many areas, and one of them is LGTBI+ visibility.” Recently, Fundación Cádiz CF received the 'Lgtbifobia-Free Space' recognition from the Junta de Andalucía for its work in human rights and inclusion.
