December 1 – Spanish football is reeling from the death of a Deportivo La Coruna fan after violent clashes ahead of the weekend visit to champions Atletico Madrid.
The fan was pulled out of a river near Atletico’s Vincente Calderon Stadium suffering from cardiac arrest, hypothermia and head injuries and later died in hospital..
Following street battles between dozens of supporters, 11 others were treated for mostly minor injuries, including a female police officer. Twenty people were taken into custody with 100 troublemakers identified.
The violence was condemned by both clubs and the Spanish league. Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin was particularly outspoken. “It’s disgusting – that scum has no place in football,” he said. “I only hope they identify those responsible and they can’t repeat such deplorable acts as these.”
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo, speaking before the death of the supporter was announced, told Spanish television: “I want to say that this has nothing to do with football. These are radical groups who meet up and these are the consequences.”
After the match, Depor coach Victor Fernandez described the incident as “one of the saddest days in Spanish football in recent years.”
For the record, Atletico won 2-0 to record their fifth win in six games and move within four points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
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