On the occasion of last week’s Barça-Villarreal match, the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation was visited at its headquarters by a delegation from the Federation of Villarreal Supporters’ Clubs. The meeting highlighted the good relationship between the two organisations, who shared the pre-match in an atmosphere of great cordiality and complicity. Javier Pérez, president of the Federation of Villarreal Supporters’ Clubs, led the delegation from Castellón, while the Confederation was represented by several presidents of regional federations, as well as the supporters’ club trustee, Ramon Térmens.
23 years of Aficiones Unidas
This meeting was framed, among other things, in the membership of both entities to Aficiones Unidas. This entity was born in 1999 and currently brings together 36 federations of supporters’ clubs of LaLiga Santander, LaLiga Smartbank and 1st RFEF teams. Its president, José Manuel Mateos, explains: “Our mission is to identify and promote meeting points and fraternisation between all Spanish football fans. On the one hand, we want to look after the figure of the fan; on the other hand, we fight energetically against any type of violence associated with this sport”.
All of this is done in coordination with the supporters’ clubs federations: “Thanks to them, we know the needs and concerns of the supporters’ clubs, and we can work in this direction”, says Mateos. In this sense, he highlights Barcelona’s contribution: “For us, the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation is an exemplary organization. It has a large and structured supporters’ club community that it brings us a lot of value”.
A benchmark for European football
Recognised by La Liga, the RFEF and the CSD, Aficiones Unidas is a benchmark organisation in the world of football on an international level. “In Europe, there are other supporters associations, but with priorities that differ from our clear desire for fraternisation and anti-violence. In any case, we are part of Football Supporters Europe (FSE) and we have a relationship with UEFA on issues relevant to the fans,” said the president of the organisation.
For his part, Antoni Guil, president of the FC Barcelona Supporters’ Clubs World Confederation and vice-president of Aficiones Unidas, also values the role of this entity: “From the Confederation we always look for the best for our territorial federations, supporters’ clubs, their members and fans in general. We believe that the projects of Aficiones Unidas take us in the same direction. Moreover, we share 100% their message of respect and against any violence“.
