(Football news) The recent LALIGA EA SPORTS match between Real Betis and UD Las Palmas was more than just a regular game. It was termed the “Game for Disability”, as Real Betis put together various initiatives to highlight and showcase the ways in which the club has made the Estadio Benito Villamarín one of the most welcoming stadiums in the world for football fans with functional diversity.

Since Real Betis created its Disability Department in 2016, the Andalusian club has dedicated significant resources to improving the fan experience for those supporters who require a little extra assistance in order to enjoy football to the maximum. The advancements made by the club help make every single home match more inclusive, and Real Betis look to highlight this progress each season with a “Game for Disability”, usually held close to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated on December 3rd.

Last season, the club hosted what was widely termed “the most inclusive game in the world”, when they took on Real Valladolid and broke the world record for the highest number of fans with functional diversity in the stands, with 1,740. Against UD Las Palmas this season, the club further highlighted its inclusivity efforts, showcasing the fact that Real Betis is the first club in Spain with a sensory room in the stadium to help people with autism enjoy the game in a comfortable way.

The sensory room proved to be a great success. As the club explained: “The children who were there for the inauguration of this room welcomed this initiative enthusiastically. They were able to play and enjoy the game without the outside noise that can sometimes be threatening, irritating or exhausting. Since the launch, we have received many requests from fans who want their children to enjoy this service. We have also received messages of thanks and noticed the pride of our fans in the social media and media coverage.”

The sensory room is just one of the many ways in which Real Betis strive to make the Estadio Benito Villamarín as welcoming as possible. The club has also made free sensory kits available for these fans, increased accessibility for wheelchair users, launched an audio description project and much more. And, on the day of the UD Las Palmas match, there was an inclusive flamenco dance show ahead of the game, a large-scale sign language interpretation of the anthem and the players wore shirts with their numbers displayed as in the Ishihara test, a test used to detect red-green colour deficiencies.

The club stated: “The main objective is to make football a 100% inclusive event. We don’t want any fan to stay at home and not enjoy watching the team at the Estadio Benito Villamarín because of barriers such as access to the stadium or disabilities such as autism. That’s why we have had a disability department for the last eight seasons, to attend to all the fans who need us and to make it easier for them to enjoy our matches.”

They continued: “Since this department was set up, access has been improved, we have launched services such as escorting fans to their seats or providing sensory kits for people with autism and accessible ticketing have been made available.”

Real Betis: A club using the reach of football to make a difference

It should be noted that this initiative isn’t the only one Real Betis have rolled out on a matchday at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. For example, Real Betis also hosted a “match for sustainability” in each of the past two seasons, during which the club organised several initiatives to highlight and to encourage fans to take care of the planet.

As the club concluded: “Through our Foundation, we want to be a leader in our field in a social sense and keep representing our fans. We want the supporters of Real Betis to feel proud to be Béticos because of how we also help people in need. We will continue to work for the welfare of children, the elderly, those going through tough times and our planet. Real Betis is about more than football and we try to show it every season through the Real Betis Balompié Foundation. We have to take advantage of the power that football has to make a difference.”

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