On 18 February, Spanish side Real Betis Balompié will aim to host 'the most inclusive match in the world' in their La Liga fixture against Real Valladolid.

The initiative, in partnership with Integrated Dreams and World Football Summit, aims to bring disabled fans from across the world together in demonstrating that live football can and should be able to be enjoyed by everybody.

During the match, Real Betis players will wear a unique kit with numbers printed in braille and the club anthem will be interpreted into sign language on giant screens across the stadium.

Players will be escorted onto the field by young disabled mascots, and fans will have the opportunity to take part in different exhibitions of disability football before the match.

At half time, local amputee football team Flamencos Amputados Sur CF will take to the field for a live demonstration and amputee football match.

Real Betis will be publishing a match guide with pictogams and easy-read formats via the club website, and disabled fans attending the match will be asked to share their feedback via a questionnaire designed to understand more about their matchday experiences to develop further improvements in the future.

This match wants to break the world record number of disabled fans at a match, and shine a light on the importance of access and inclusivity within live sport.

We will be sharing photos and videos from the match on our social media channels over the weekend, so be sure to check the CAFE Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles to see more from this fantastic event.

From everyone at CAFE - the very best of luck to Real Betis, Integrated Dreams and World Football Summit in creating a piece of history!

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Real Betis disability and accessibility department

Real Betis is working to improve the experience of its fans on matchdays. Thus, the entity has a specific group of volunteers who are responsible for carrying out the “We accompany you to your seat” service, which consists of helping disbaled people  to access their seats. In addition, Real Betis also has accessible ticketing available for wheelchair users as well as sensory packages for autistic fans, becoming the first team in La Liga to implement this initiative.

Integrated Dreams

Integrated Dreams Association (ID) is an NGO founded in 2017, based in Lisbon, Portugal, with a mission to increase the representation of disabled people in the world of sport through inclusion, development and education. As such, the organisation started with a training program specifically designed to promote employability, entrepreneurship and networking of disabled people in the world of sport, the Football For All Leadership Programme (FFALP). This project has already had 3 successful editions, where they supported disabled people from 20 different countries and has the collaboration of reference partners such as FIFA and the Centre for Access to Football in Europe. Following their inclusive mission, they have also partnered with the World Football Summit to launch the Football Without Limits award and celebrate the most outstanding projects related to football and disability around the world.

World Football Summit: where the football industry meets

World Football Summit is the meeting place for soccer industry leaders to debate and build the future of the sport. Its platform has evolved from an annual meeting focused on the European market, to a growing series of events covering the challenges and opportunities of the different regions and sectors of this thriving industry. WFS is driven by a global community of influential professionals who share a unique passion for the business of sport and a mission to spark debate, share knowledge and promote innovation that drives the progress of the sport and the football industry.

Published 14/2/2023