Madrid Grassroots Club Occupies Streets to Protest Lack of Public Sports Facilities

• The Dragones de Lavapiés club in Madrid blocked the Ronda de Valencia street on October 9 to protest the ongoing closure of their training facilities and a general lack of public play spaces.
• Families and members denounced the prolonged abandonment of local sports sites and the city government's failure to complete construction projects.

Core Demands

• Recovery of Facilities: Urgent completion of suspended construction at Embajadores 18 and Casino de la Reina park, and the opening of the Fúcar street sports center with preference for local community clubs.
• Support for Social Fabric: Greater municipal backing for a project recognized globally for its work in social inclusion, gender equality, and anti-racism.
• Social Services Intervention: Comprehensive, dignified care for vulnerable individuals and those with drug dependency currently sheltering in neglected public spaces.

Background and Context

• The club supports over 400 children from 60 nationalities and 200 adults, including teams for refugees, queer individuals, amputees, and the homeless.
• Despite backing from major organizations like FIFA, UEFA, and Global Citizen, the club faces an unprecedented shortage of training space in its own neighborhood.
• The collective also requested that the Ministry of Culture open the La Tabacalera building to provide a sheltered space for children to practice during the winter.