zezestudio

Tuesday, 2 December 2014

Frente Atletico ultras banned following fan death

Thegoalmac can reveal that Atletico Madrid have announced that members of the Frente Atletico group of ultras will never be able to watch a match again at the Vicente Calderon following the violence which saw a Deportivo La Coruna fan lose his life on Sunday.

I think this is a step in the right direction by Atletico to curb violence, hope other clubs will follow this example too in Spain and around the world. Continue for more details after the cut.

Radical supporters of Atletico and Deportivo were involved in a brutal fight early on Sunday morning by Madrid's Manzanares river and 43-year-old Galician Francisco Javier Romero Taboada, known as 'Jimmy', was killed after being beaten and thrown into the water.

Members of Frente Atletico then allegedly prevented police from rescuing the fan before firefighters pulled out the injured supporter, who later died in hospital after suffering a ruptured spleen, hypothermia and severe brain injuries.

"Atletico Madrid have expelled Frente Atletico," the Spanish champions announced on their website on Tuesday.

"Following the serious incidents, the club created a special commission to gather information and take action," a club statement said. "Upon receiving the police report, which identified detainees and participants of the massive fight as members of Frente Atletico, this decision has been taken."

And Atleti added: "From today, Frente Atletico is no longer an official suppoerters' group recognised by the club."

The club admitted it does not have the power to dissolve Frente Atletico, but claimed action would be taken against any other fans or groups showing racist, xenophobic or political agendas.

"The club will pursue any other collective, supporters' group or organisation that may arise in the future under any other name that does not radically condemn violence or which uses Atletico Madrid or its facilities to defend political, racist or xenophobic ideas," the statement said.

Meanwhile, Deportivo La Coruna announced on Tuesday that the stand where radical group Riazor Blues (whose members fought Frente Atletico on Sunday) watch games, will be closed for the club's next two home fixtures, both against Malaga.

No comments:

Post a Comment