1. The origin of LaLiga GENUINE
LaLiga Genuine is a groundbreaking social responsibility and integration initiative, the development of which began with the LaLiga Foundation. It consists of the creation of a league composed of teams of people with intellectual disabilities (ID).
In March 2016, LaLiga received a proposal from one of its member clubs, specifically Nastic. The aim of the project was to create a football league for member clubs in which players with intellectual disabilities would play, in order to demonstrate professional football’s firm commitment to society in terms of diversity and inclusion.
The proposal was warmly welcomed by LaLiga and approved by its Management Committee, and staff from the foundation went to work for months in conjunction with a group of clubs which already ran a team or school for people with intellectual disabilities, determining the participation requirements, format and rules of the competition through consensus and collaboration.
The project was introduced to the rest of the member clubs in April 2017, inviting them to come on board with this social integration initiative. LaLiga GENUINE proved a hugely popular idea and the group of seven clubs initially taking part in the project grew to 18.
On 19 May 2017, LaLiga president Javier Tebas unveiled LaLiga GENUINE. When the initiative was created, the following objectives were set:
-To make playing football normal within the ID community.
-To achieve commitment from professional football towards this socially responsible integration project.
-To reach the point where all of the LaLiga clubs have a Genuine team, thereby contributing real social value to Spanish football.
2. Who forms part of LaLiga GENUINE?
LaLiga GENUINE is composed of 18 professional football clubs (17 LaLiga member clubs plus RCD Mallor- ca, who formed part of LaLiga 1|2|3 when the project began):
ATHLETIC CLUB FUNDAZIOA
REIAL CLUB DEPORTIU ESPANYOL DE BARCELONA SAD FUNDACIÓN CLUB ATLÉTICO DE MADRID
REAL CLUB DEPORTIVO DE LA CORUÑA SAD REAL SOCIEDAD FUNDAZIOA
LEVANTE UNIÓN DEPORTIVA EDI
CLUB DE FÚTBOL REUS DEPORTIU SAD CLUB GIMNÀSTIC DE TARRAGONA SAD REAL CLUB DEPORTIVO MALLORCA SAD* VALENCIA CLUB DE FÚTBOL SAD
CLUB ATLÉTICO OSASUNA VILLARREAL CLUB DE FÚTBOL SAD FUNDACIÓN CELTA INTEGRA FUNDACIÓN RAYO VALLECANO GIRONA FÚTBOL SAD
UNIÓN DEPORTIVA LAS PALMAS SAD CÓRDOBA CLUB DE FÚTBOL SAD SOCIEDAD DEPORTIVA HUESCA SAD
3. Competition
The competition will consist of eight-a-side football (seven outfield players + the goalkeeper) and each club will be allowed to name a squad of 16 players for each round. All matches will comprise four quarters of 10 minutes each.
Scoring system
In each match, divided into four quarters of 10 minutes each, a maximum of one point will be awarded for each quarter won and zero points will be awarded for each quarter drawn or lost.
Additionally, for each match won, teams will earn three points in the league table, each match drawn will earn teams two points in the table and, finally, each match lost will earn one point in the table.
LaLiga Genuine will be played via a league system with six groups of three teams, such that each round will feature three matches per group.
4. Competition values and philosophy
“At LaLiga GENUINE, football is for EVERYONE. All players deserve the OPPORTUNITY to prove what they are capable of and to take part in the event.”
“RESPECT for yourself and your teammates is essential. And it should be emphasised that COMPE- TING is important, but not at all costs. SHARING is more important than competing.”
The LaLiga Genuine competition is based on values such as integration, teamwork, camaraderie and sportsmanship ahead of competitiveness. The value of fair play takes centre stage in a competition of this nature, which is why sportsmanship will be rewarded in the final tallying of the points.
All clubs will be able to earn a series of points on each matchday as a reward for fair play. These points will depend on the attitude of the coaches, the behaviour of the players, the conduct of the fans and sporting acts of fair play by players and managers. All of these aspects will be evaluated by the referee, the pitch director and the members of the opposing team at the end of each match.
5. Profile and teams participating in LaLiga GENUINE
Teams may be single sex or mixed (male-female). Players born before 1 October 2001 (over 16 years of age) with a certified intellectual disability of at least 33% may take part.
6. LaLiga GENUINE microsite
To stay up to date with the latest news, as well as the results, the league standings and other content related to the competition, the LaLiga GENUINE microsite is now online at www.laliga.es/liga-genuine
7. Second Round in Tarragona
Tarragona is set to play host to the 2nd Round of the LaLiga GENUINE competition across 19, 20 and 21
January. On hand at this latest venue will be a team of 300 volunteers, who will be tasked with looking out for the well-being, comfort and security of the participants. The volunteers, who are students from the Institut Sant Pere i Sant Pau and Institut Marti Franques secondary schools, have been receiving training and guidance for some time now ahead of their involvement at the 2nd Round of the LaLiga GENUINE competition.
League table
