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- Bellerin has adopted greener habits, including cycling for training and eating a vegan diet.
- Former Arsenal defender says voting is ‘one of the most environmentally friendly things’ people can do
- Real Betis’ foundation commits to environmental sustainability activities through the ‘Forever Green’ initiative
Real Betis defender Hector Bellerin has criticized plans to stage the 2030 men’s FIFA World Cup on three continents, saying soccer’s governing body should do more to prioritize environmental sustainability.
Speaking at La Liga’s media roundtable promoting the “Forever Green” initiative run by the Real Betis Foundation, Bellerin said that events would be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and matches would also be held in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. The decision was that the tournament had no contact with the general public.
“every [passing] Today, football is about profit margins, money is more important than the people who support it and the people who make football really great,” Bellerin said.
“It’s becoming more elitist by the day, and being held in three different countries makes it more difficult for fans to follow their national team.
“As the competitions change, we start to think about what football is about, who actually makes it great, the people who follow us, the people who watch us every weekend. We’re losing a little bit of the essence of what it is.”
Some have criticized the environmental impact of the World Cup, which is held over a large geographical area, but Bellerin has become a strong advocate for environmental sustainability off the pitch.
In 2020, it became the second largest shareholder of Forest Green Rovers, an English fourth-division club that is widely known for its commitment to green policies.
“Sustainability is always important to me,” Bellerin said. “That’s something I take into consideration in every decision I make in life.
“It’s important to be part of a football club that is conscious of that and is trying to put systems in place and make things easier for fans, staff, staff and players to live a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. I think it’s an inspiration.”
Bellerin trains by bicycle, uses public transport whenever possible, follows a vegan diet and carefully considers new purchases. He added that “one of the most environmentally friendly things” anyone can do is to make their voices heard at the voting booth.
“Voting means putting someone in power who will promote environmental initiatives, because as consumers we sometimes feel a great responsibility,” he said.
“But it is also the countries and big corporations that need to be held accountable, because they are the ones who pollute the environment the most. So every time you vote, you can make sure that you create a more sustainable future.” It gives you an opportunity.”
Bellerin is proud of his club Real Betis’ commitment to its ‘Forever Green’ campaign, which has seen the club reduce its carbon footprint by nearly 31 per cent since the 2018/19 season.
“We have great concerns about greenwashing,” Betis CEO Ramon Alarcón said. “It’s true that we have a big problem with travel because we play matches every three days so it’s almost impossible not to fly. I try to take the train as much as possible.”
Bellerin has advocated for organic change in football, suggesting common practices such as flying to matches and wearing new kits for every match could be phased out. are doing.
“This must be a global effort by all football clubs, football associations and governments to ensure that we reduce waste in the products and transport we use,” Bellerin said. “You also need to make sure that the people at the top feel supported and make it easier for the people at the bottom.”
Bellerin is not shy about using her platform to advance social issues. Along with his team-mates Isco and Borja Iglesias, he is part of a small group of La Liga male players who have publicly supported Geny Hermoso and criticized the actions of former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales. I was alone. Mr. Bellerin will not hesitate to speak out in the future, he said.
“As I get older, I feel like everyone has the ability to express their opinions and it’s important to use this influence that you have,” he continued.
“There’s a group of players here and they’ve had these conversations with their teammates, they’ve had these awkward conversations, they’ve had things they wanted to learn.
“We know that many people, especially men, can be afraid to talk about these things for fear of being called a hypocrite. They may have had different opinions in the past because of the way they were used.
“Living in a society where there is no room for error makes it difficult for people to put themselves out there.
“When we talk about sustainability, I used to buy a lot of clothes. That doesn’t mean I want to do that today. I’m not the same person I was before, so I want to change.”
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