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Free entry for children at Cehegín bullfight sparks fresh controversy
Foundation warns of harm to minors as debate over tradition and attendance continues
A planned bullfighting event in Cehegín this June has come under fire after it emerged that children under 12 will be allowed to attend for free, prompting criticism from an international animal welfare foundation.The Franz Weber Foundation has condemned the decision, arguing that allowing minors into bullfighting events goes against repeated recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.
The group says young attendees “will be able to see real violence against animals, which could impact their social, moral, intellectual or psychological development.”
The event, scheduled for Sunday June 14 at 6.30pm in Valentín, a district of Cehegín, is a bullfighting festival without picadors. The line-up includes Javier Herrero, Antonio Puerta, Filiberto and José María Trigueros, as well as Antonio Aparicio, winner of the Espiga de Plata award.
According to the foundation, concerns about children attending such events are not new. It points to previous UN guidance urging Spain to set a minimum age of 18 for participation in and attendance at bullfighting activities, alongside calls for greater awareness of the potential negative effects on young people. “The most recent communication again formally requested that these practices cease,” the group noted.
It has also criticised the role of the local Ayuntamiento, claiming it has “regularly collaborated with bullfighting events, guaranteeing free access for children.” The foundation is now calling on the council to withdraw its support, warning that exposure to such spectacles risks normalising violence. “Minors may accept this as normal and positive,” it said, “contributing to the trivialisation of violence against animals.”
The issue comes at a time when bullfighting in Spain continues to divide opinion. Recent discussions have included proposals to restrict or ban children from attending events altogether, reflecting growing concern about their exposure to such practices.
At the same time, there are signs of contrasting trends within the sector. Some areas, such as Málaga, have reported renewed interest, with international visitors, particularly from Germany, helping to boost attendance.
However, this resurgence is not reflected everywhere. Overall figures suggest that crowds at bullfighting events have declined significantly in recent years, despite public funding and isolated pockets of renewed popularity.
As the debate continues, the controversy in Cehegín highlights the ongoing tension between tradition, public policy and changing social attitudes, particularly when it comes to younger generations.
Image: Paul Kenny McGrath/Unsplash
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