LaLiga clubs do not charge for mascots like Premier League teams do LaLiga MARCA investigates after scandal in England

The recent revelation that Premier League clubs were charging astronomical fees for children to have the experience of being mascot for their teams ahead of games drew widespread criticism in England.

Some clubs were found to be charging up to 700 pounds (around 830 euros) for the opportunity.

After the storm in the Premier League, MARCA has sought to find out what the situation is in LaLiga Santander, taking a look at each club's policy.

Children do not usually go out on the field with the players, nor to take part in the team photo at the start of the matches. In the rare event that this happens, it will be the kids from the academy or some of the children of the players.

There is the possibility of sending an email to the club so that some children who want to take a picture with the players can do so but it is not paid, only the club has to give authorisation.

There is also no custom of the players walking onto the field accompanied by children. It occurs in special circumstances such as derbies or hugely important games, and usually coincides as an initiative of a club sponsor who raffle the opportunity to their clients.

Athletic do allow photo opportunities for kids with the starting line-up which is open to members, who can sign up their relatives or friends up to a certain age and the club charges them for the photograph, which they will receive the week after the match.

The children who walk out on the field are given the opportunity by the club's sponsors, who come out wearing Hyundai shirts, and the process is organised through a contest, while others are assigned through 'Save the Children' so that school kids with which they collaborate have a chance.

In addition, in some games, Hyundai makes up to eleven places raffled among junior members and it is not paid.

Children don't walk out onto the field with the players in domestic games, this onlly happens in Champions League games which is organised by UEFA. Relatives of members can sign up for the chance to pose with the players. The children of players are often seen in the team photos.

In Real Betis's, children who wish to walk out hand-in-hand with the players do so for free and are chosen by chance.

It is only available for children between the ages of six and 11 years old and they must be club members.

Anyone who wants to walk out with the players has to go to the official club store and request it. For the photo, they must wear the official kit of the team for that season and, then, if they want a copy to keep, they have to pay for it.

Showing up at the club offices or making a phone call is enough to get the chance to pose with the players before a match.

There is a maximum number of 25 children, between 3 and 12 years old, who can walk out onto the field with the players. Each member can enrol a child.

Espanyol do not offer such a possibility for their young fans, with the only scenario in which mascots enter the field is for a charity or cause, or when something is organised by a club sponsor.

Against Athletic Club, young boys and girls walked onto the field to support the victims of Storm Gloria and the coronavirus.

Getafe does not charge for these actions, but rather it is an act of loyalty towards fans and the club's academy kids, who have to sign up at the club's store and are put on a waiting list.

Kids walk out onto the pitch in every home game, except for five matches which are available to sponsors. There are also children who carry flags around the field, all from the academy.

All Granada fans under the age of 14 can request taking a photo with the starting eleven for children, an experience for which they do not have to pay.

For the occasion, the children must wear the official 2019/20 kit or, if not, at least the shirt with jeans but having a picture taken does not come with a ticket for the game.

It is not a commercial act for Leganes, though some of their sponsors and LaLiga have the right to charge.

Typically, children and academy players are able to walk out onto the pitch, some with the In addition, fans can contact the club for children to take pictures with the first team.

Levante do not usually walk out of the tunnel with mascots, only on special occasions related to promotional events.

The Real Mallorca Foundation manages the process of children walking out onto the pitch, but they do not go out hand-in-hand with the players, they just take a picture with the team and do not have to pay for the privilege.

Osasuna do not charge any fee for youngsters walking out alongside their idols, they offer the possibility for members to register their sons and daughters to have the honour.

It is also common for pupils from different schools of the Osasuna Foundation across Navarra to be able take a photo with the starting eleven.

Los Blancos only seek to satisfy their youngest supporters and transfer the feelings their idols have when they step out onto the famous pitch to them. As such, in every single LaLiga Santander match 11 boys and girls accompany the players through all the pre-match formalities before entering the pitch with them. There is no money involved, and the children selected are usually related to the club's foundation. This is not a business matter in any sense.

La Real don't charge kids to appear as mascots for LaLiga Santander fixtures. The names of children are pulled out of a raffle and this happens before every single home match. Several schools are allowed to visit the club's training facilities for free and watch either the men or women's teams train. They are the shown a video detailing the history of the San Sebastian club, as well as meeting a player. The mascot selected gets to take his picture with the starting XI before each match and this is free for members, although those who aren't have to pay 50 euros.

Sevilla don't charge children to go out onto the field to be photographed with their players, and members can sign themselves up on a waiting list. The children who accompany the team onto the pitch are usually relatives of the players themselves.

Valencia has two different situations when children accompany their team onto the pitch. The first sees the youngsters get a photo with the team and this is organised by the club and doesn't cost anything. People sign up to a waiting list and wait for their turn. The other is the act of walking onto the pitch with the players, something that is not done at Estadio Mestalla, aside from in the Champions League, which UEFA mandates. The club doesn't earn any money from these endeavours.

It changes from week to week, with it assigned to the sponsor. Any child between five and 12 years old wearing a club shirt can take a picture with the team before a match.

Villarreal run a raffle among the children of Very Yellow People (VYP) members, and they are the ones who are given the experience at the stadium. Children are allowed to accompany players onto the pitch, but that is organised by different sponsors.