Atletico Madrid have been handed sanctions for the action of their fans leading to the temporary suspension of their Sunday’s Derby match against Real Madrid. Atletico’s two-fold sanction involves a three-game partial closure of their stands and a €45,000 ban.
Atletico’s derby against Madrid had to be abandoned in the middle of the second half after their fans began to throw lighters, bottles and other objects onto the field minutes after an Eder Militão goal put Madrid ahead. Angel Correa brought Atletico back to level after play had been delayed for 15 minutes.
The competition committee of the Spanish footnall federation handed the sanction to Atletico on October 2, mandating the club to close Fondo Sur, the stand where the fans threw the objects from, for three games. The club has itself handed a permanent ban to one a fan who has been identified as one of the perpetrators of the act, ensuring that work is ongoing with police to identify others and locate them. However, the club has the right to appeal the Spanish FA’s decision.
Atletico have also announced that they will amend their rules to prevent fans from wearing clothes masking their identity from entering the stadium. While Atletico manager Diego Simeone criticized the action of the fans, he was also critical of Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ celebration to Militão’s goal which he claimed was what provoked the reaction from Atletico fans. He said, “But we, the protagonists, don’t help, when we provoke the fans and the fans get angry. It’s wrong, it isn’t right, but we have to stay calm and understand the situation, know how we can celebrate a goal.”
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti on the other hand commended the referee who officiated the game Mateo Busquets Ferrer. Ferrer halted the game after issuing warnings to fans three times. Ancelotti said, “I think it was the correct decision by the referee,” Ancelotti said. “It was the right thing to do. Nobody likes to stop the game, but I think the referee did well.”
