LaLiga’s integrity officers visited the entire Real Madrid first team squad this Friday as part of their annual awareness campaign. The aim was to remind all professional players across the 42 clubs in the First and Second Divisions that they are strictly prohibited from betting on LaLiga or any other competition in which their club participates, using inside information, or giving or receiving bonuses to third parties, among other obligations. After the meeting at Valdebebas, club sources reiterated that Real Madrid maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding betting and match-fixing, regardless of any criminal liability linked to such actions.

The Real Madrid players followed the refresher course closely, which highlighted the importance of respecting all regulations to avoid both sporting and legal consequences. According to the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), match-fixing involves any intentional action or omission designed to improperly alter the outcome or development of a sporting event, eliminating its unpredictable nature and generating an undue advantage.

This conduct is classified as a crime under the Penal Code. Article 286 bis establishes penalties ranging from six months to four years in prison, along with special disqualification from the profession for one to six years. In addition, disciplinary sanctions from the Royal Spanish Football Federation can include fines between €3,005.06 and €30,551, suspension of a license for two to five years, or even permanent revocation. Any behavior that intentionally disrupts the normal development of a match may be considered a criminal and disciplinary offense.

Real Madrid also applies its own internal monitoring and remains vigilant across all teams, from the first team to the youth academy, in both football and basketball. According to the RFEF and LaLiga, the club is considered a model for its practices. LaLiga carries out these visits every season to reinforce the mandatory compliance with the regulations. The courses, delivered for nearly a decade, are led by experts such as Iñaki Arbea, a former head of the Economic and Organized Crime Department of the National Police in Navarre. This Friday, the session at Valdebebas was conducted by Pedro Varas, LaLiga’s Head of Integrity, according to club sources.

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