Soccer For All Young People!

Canarian Sports Opens its Arms: Soccer for All Young People!

Goodbye to Bureaucracies: Protected Minors Will Be Able to Play Without Obstacles

Las Palmas, April 23, 2026. The sports panorama in the Canary Islands has taken a historic turn. The regional government has issued a forceful resolution, published today in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC), which puts an end to the barriers that prevented unaccompanied foreign minors, under public guardianship, from enjoying football. The General Directorate of Physical Activity and Sports has issued a clear order: the soccer federations of the archipelago must immediately issue territorial licenses for these young people.

This long-awaited measure seeks to dismantle the bureaucratic obstacles that, protected by restrictive interpretations of FIFA regulations, had turned access to grassroots football into an odyssey for many. Until now, these adolescents were deprived of competing on equal terms, a situation that generated frustration and discouragement.

Resolution does not come from nowhere. It is a direct response to a flood of complaints filed by the minors themselves and their legal representatives. The impossibility of obtaining federation tokens to participate in non-professional competitions had become an insurmountable wall, evidencing a failure in the integration system through sport.

The regional Executive has been emphatic in underlining the crucial role of sport in personal development and social cohesion. They consider that the previous restrictions constituted a form of discrimination, denying these young people a fundamental avenue for their growth and adaptation. As of March 2026, the number of minors under guardianship in the Canary Islands amounted to 3,735. Many of them found themselves with a slamming door at the federations, victims of an inflexible application of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

The legal support for this decision is strong. It is based on the Canary Islands Sports Law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international treaty that guarantees the right of every minor to protection and development. José Francisco Pérez Martín, general director of Physical Activity and Sports, has been clear in stating that the regulations of international private entities cannot prevail over the Spanish legal system, which actively protects the right of any minor legally resident in Spain to practice sports.

The resolution also highlights the nature of federations. When exercising delegated public functions, these organizations are obliged to comply with the constitutional mandate to protect children and promote physical activity, without distinction of nationality or family situation. The door is open to everyone, without exceptions.

But the order goes beyond issuing new licenses. The federations have the task of reviewing all applications that were denied during the current 2025/2026 season. This is a necessary rectification to make amends for past mistakes and ensure that no young person is left out for unjustified reasons.

Furthermore, the mandate urges football organizations to intensify their efforts and actively manage at higher levels to promote the inclusion of these young people. The Government of the Canary Islands, with this action, not only reaffirms its authority and protection over the sports federations, but also sets an important precedent in the fight against the regulatory barriers that hinder the integration of the most vulnerable groups in the exciting world of modest football.

This is a day of celebration for Canarian sports and, above all, for the young people who will now see their dream of wearing a team's shirt and competing on the playing field come true.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has the Government of the Canary Islands decided regarding unaccompanied foreign minors?
The Government of the Canary Islands has ordered football federations to immediately issue territorial licenses to unaccompanied foreign minors under regional guardianship, eliminating bureaucratic obstacles.

Why did they have problems getting licenses before?
Previously, the restrictive interpretations of FIFA regulations and the strict application of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players prevented these young people from obtaining federation tokens for non-professional competitions.

How many minors are under guardianship in the Canary Islands?
As of March 2026, the Canary Islands protect 3,735 minors.

What legal argument does the Government use for this decision?
The legal basis is based on the Canary Islands Sports Law and international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in addition to remembering that the regulations of private entities cannot contravene the state legal system.

What role do federations play in this situation?
Federations exercise delegated public functions and, therefore, must comply with the constitutional mandate of protecting children and promoting physical activity without distinction.

Will previously rejected applications be reviewed?
Yes, the Ministry requires federations to review all applications rejected during the current 2025/2026 season.

What more is asked of football organizations?
They are urged to take the necessary steps before higher authorities to promote the inclusion of these young people.

What does this resolution mean for the future?
It establishes a precedent in the fight against regulatory obstacles that limit the integration of vulnerable groups in modest football and reaffirms the Government's protection over the federations.

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