The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has awarded Atlético Madrid 45,000 euros after Sunday night's city derby was suspended after supporters threw objects at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. He was fined £37,000 and ordered the Civitas Metropolitano stadium to be partially closed for three matches. . The club could face further punishment as the government's anti-violence committee investigates allegations of racist abuse targeting Vinicius Junior.
Referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer ordered his team off the pitch in the 68th minute, per official protocol, after two appeals over the loudspeaker failed to stop the missiles, which included lighters, bottles and plastic bags, from being launched. I made him retreat. The teams returned to the pitch after 15 minutes, and Atlético's late equalizing goal ended the match.
“We don't need these people in our stands,” coach Diego Simeone said after the match, but also accused Courtois of provoking supporters.
The RFEF's competition committee met on Wednesday and decided on a €45,000 fine and the closure of league matches against Leganes, Las Palmas and Alaves in the south stand where the goods were leaked. This penalty does not apply to Champions League matches. Atlético have the right to appeal, suspending the closure.
The disciplinary regulations envisage a fine of up to 6,000 euros and partial closure of the stadium for one match in the case of the first offense of the season, but the committee, taking into account the nature of the rivalry, decided that Atlético would be required to do so in order to prevent the incident. It was determined that no appropriate measures had been taken. And the significance of this match. The commission welcomed Atlético's efforts to identify the perpetrators, one of whom has so far been identified and permanently banned, but said it considered retroactive measures insufficient. said.
This is the fourth time Atlético have been punished for the actions of a supporter in the South Stand, where members of the far-right ultra-group Frente Atlético gather. In April last year, the stands were closed following racist abuse towards Nico Williams, but the ban was not enforced on appeal. UEFA punished the club when supporters gave a fascist salute during a Champions League game against Manchester City in 2022 and when they threw smoke bombs during the 2018 Europa League.
The punishment could have been even more severe had Courtois been hit by the object, but the commission still could not classify the incident as serious. “Although the objects were small, given the distances at which some of the objects were thrown, there is no doubt that they had the potential to cause injury and could even hit the intended goalkeeper in the head or face,” the ruling read. I read it like this.
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The state commission against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport has launched a separate investigation into allegations of racist chants targeting Vinicius.
