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.
El Salto ·