The highly anticipated city derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid took a tumultuous turn on Sunday when Atletico fans started hurling objects onto the field, prompting a brief interruption in the game. The incident occurred at the Metropolitano stadium in Spain during the Spanish league match, leading the referee to halt play and escort players off the field for safety reasons. It took approximately 15 minutes before the game resumed following the disruption around the 70th minute mark.
The commotion unfolded shortly after Real Madrid’s Éder Militão scored the opening goal and celebrated near the sideline in front of Atletico fans. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois noticed objects, including lighters, being thrown onto the field and brought it to the referee’s attention. Atletico defender José María Giménez and midfielder Koke Resurrección even approached the fans in the section behind Courtois’ goal, where the more radical Atletico supporters typically sit. In response to the chaos, Atletico coach Diego Simeone repeatedly urged the fans to maintain decorum.
The stadium’s loudspeaker announced that there would be a 15-minute interruption due to the unacceptable behavior of the fans. Additionally, a warning was issued that if the situation persisted, the match could potentially be called off. The disruption came on the heels of a controversy involving a social media campaign targeting Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior with racist undertones. The Spanish league had announced its intention to involve law enforcement to address the promoters of the campaign, which advocated for Atletico fans to don face masks to evade identification while engaging in discriminatory behavior.
Preceding the derby, videos circulated on social media showing Atletico fans chanting “Vinícius is different.” The atmosphere was already charged before the match even began, and the ensuing chaos only exacerbated tensions at the stadium. As fans and players alike grappled with the aftermath of the interruption, the match finally resumed, albeit under a cloud of controversy and discontent.
In the aftermath of the incident and the ongoing investigation into the social media campaign, both clubs and authorities are expected to address the concerning behavior and take steps to prevent such incidents from tarnishing future football matches. The derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid serves as a reminder of the passion and intensity that can sometimes escalate into unsportsmanlike conduct, highlighting the need for vigilance and respect in the world of football.
