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.

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