Atletico Madrid Penalized for Crowd Trouble in Derby

Atletico Madrid faced disciplinary action following crowd trouble during Sunday’s La Liga derby against Real Madrid. The match experienced a 20-minute delay in the second half after Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois reported to officials that home fans behind his goal were throwing objects onto the field. Despite appeals over the stadium loudspeakers urging fans to stop their actions, the requests went unheeded.

This disregard ultimately led to the suspension of the game. In response to the incident, the Spanish football federation’s disciplinary committee ruled that Atletico must close the lower south section of the Metropolitano Stadium where the disturbances occurred for the next three matches. The club also received a fine of €45,000 (£37,460) for the offenses.

The federation classified these actions as “very serious” and “totally unacceptable.” Despite the disruptions, the match concluded in a 1-1 draw with Atletico’s Angel Correa scoring a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time to cancel out Eder Militao’s first-half goal for Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid has taken steps to address the situation, stating that they have already identified and banned one supporter involved in the disturbances.

The club has emphasized its commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all fans during matches. As the situation develops, Atletico will look to mitigate further incidents and adhere to the guidelines set by the disciplinary committee in future fixtures.