The youth academy of Unión Manilva joins the initiative of the Agrupación de Clubes de Fútbol de Marbella to demand speed and clarity in the federation procedures for minors who are not of Spanish nationality.
Youth football in the western part of the Costa del Sol has said «enough». Under the slogan «Tired of waiting, we sit down», the youth academy of Unión Manilva has officially announced that it is joining the protest promoted by the Agrupación de Clubes de Fútbol de Marbella. The action is a peaceful sit-in that will take place during this weekend’s league fixtures (28, 29 and 30 November) in all categories.
This joint action, which represents thousands of players, seeks to draw attention to a situation that the clubs describe as «unfair»: hundreds of children of foreign nationality are unable to compete because of bureaucratic obstacles.
An administrative blockage that leaves children unable to play
The central reason for the mobilisation is the slowness and confusion of the federation procedures required to process registrations for non-Spanish minors. According to the clubs affected, many of their players have been training as normal for months alongside their team-mates, but cannot be called up for official matches.
Sports organisations point out that the current regulations impose complex requirements and excessive waiting times, creating a situation of inequality between minors with a Spanish DNI and those who reside legally but hold other nationalities.
«Our players of a nationality other than Spanish have gone months without competing because of the slow and confusing federation procedures. We cannot count on them, even though they train like everyone else», states the communiqué issued by Unión Manilva.
The clubs’ demands
To unblock the situation and guarantee the right to play for all minors, the Costa del Sol clubs have presented a specific list of requests addressed to the relevant federations and institutions:
- Automatic provisional licences: For every foreign minor who has submitted the required documentation, allowing them to play while the final application is being resolved.
- Equality in documentation: They ask that children with an NIE (Foreigner’s Identity Number) not be required to provide more documents than a Spanish minor.
- Implementation of the ELM (Limited Exemption for Minors): This measure is key, as it allows registration with amateur clubs, avoiding the complex bureaucratic procedures that FIFA designed to prevent the trafficking of minors in professional clubs, but which are stifling amateur football.
Measures «until we get what is fair»
This weekend’s sit-in is presented as a first measure of pressure. The clubs have warned that they will continue to take peaceful action until they obtain a clear response and effective solutions to this situation.
The aim is to take this demand not only to the pitches, but also to the federations, public institutions and the media. The clubs’ final message is unanimous and emphatic: they want «all our boys and girls to be able to PLAY».
