Thursday, October 10, 2024, 8:57 p.m.
After having been sanctioned by the Competition Committee of the Spanish Football Federation (FEF) with the closure of the southern back stand of the Metropolitano for three games and with a fine of 45,000 euros for throwing objects at Thibaut Courtois during the League derby, Atlético will also pay in Europe for the behavior of the Front’s ultras. Only three days after the very serious incidents at the Metropolitano on September 29, with lighters and water bottles thrown at the Real Madrid goalkeeper, among other objects, the radicals of the Atlético Front traveled to Lisbon to witness at the Da stadium The match against Benfica is light, corresponding to the second day of the Champions League.
Among the more than 2,300 red and white fans who traveled to the Portuguese capital were dozens of ultras and several of them displayed Nazi symbols and gave fascist salutes. His “racist and/or discriminatory” behavior, as UEFA has described it, has caused the European body to fine Atlético with 30,000 euros and warn him that, in the event of a repeat offense this season, it will prohibit the sale of tickets at home. in a match of the highest continental competition.
Atlético has already “permanently” expelled three identified partners involved in the violent incidents that occurred during the derby and that forced the match against Real Madrid to be suspended for 17 minutes. Two of them are some of the hooded men who could be seen on camera when the team captains, Koke and Giménez, approached the south end to ask the ultras for calm. The mattress club assures that it continues to collaborate with the Police in identifying the rest of the aggressors, but the day after announcing that it will appeal to the FEF Appeals Committee for considering the sanction imposed by Competition “disproportionate”, it learned of the fine from the UEFA and the warning that it can be more forceful due to the attitude of its followers.
“Excessive” punishment
«We believe that the unacceptable behavior of a few cannot lead to such an excessive punishment towards a large majority who did not commit any fault. The biggest loser for everything that happened is Atlético de Madrid and its fans and those responsible for this are those involved in the throwing of objects, who are the ones who should be punished and not the rest of the fans, who have amply demonstrated their good behavior. . For this reason, we consider it appropriate to appeal this sanction before the Appeals Committee,” defends Atlético in reference to the crowd incidents in the derby.
“The sanction harms a large number of fans who have nothing to do with what happened and who showed exemplary behavior,” insists the club chaired by Enrique Cerezo. Atlético also applies this reasoning to the behavior of its fans in Lisbon and estimates that Apart from the fact that it does not consider it fair that the club has to face a financial penalty, the rest of the fans are not responsible for the behavior of a few. In this case, radicals who continue to display Nazi symbols inside and outside the Metropolitan and carry out violent and racist acts. «We believe that the unacceptable behavior of a few cannot lead to such an excessive punishment towards a large majority who did not commit any fault. The biggest loser from everything that happened is Atlético and its fans,” the club insists.
The behavior of the Ultras of the Atlético Front during the derby has even led the Movement against Intolerance to go to the Hate Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, considering that what happened in the Metropolitano is susceptible to being investigated, with charges if there are those responsible for a crime. crime of this nature. “Not only is it a very serious infraction, but it could presumably be a hate crime, carried out by grouped, rabid, hooded ultras and when the time comes, exercising violence,” highlights the president of the Movement against Intolerance, Esteban Ibarra.
The leader also criticizes “the indolence of those who have to guarantee security in all areas.” «Our club maintains a policy of zero tolerance against violence, pursuing any manifestation of this nature and applying the sanctions provided for in our internal regulations to those involved. Our collaboration with the authorities is permanent,” insists Atlético.
