Atletico fans halt Madrid derby as Courtois bombarded after goal celebration

September 30 – Sunday’s LaLiga derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid was temporarily suspended in the 69th minute when home fans hurled objects on to the pitch after defender Eder Militao had scored the opener for the visitors five minutes earlier.

While Real players celebrated the goal, Atletico ultras Fondo Sur, who are located in the south lower stands, threw missiles towards visiting keeper Thibaut Courtois, who promptly alerted the referee.

The match was immediately halted, initially for 10 minutes in line with La Liga protocols, and eventually restarted after 15 minutes.

Any further trouble and the game would have been abandoned. Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, whose side snatched a stoppage-time equaliser, called for the perpetrators to be punished.

Simeone insisted that Atletico “do not need these people in our stands” while skipper Koke, who had appealed to the fans to stop hurling missiles,  added:  “I hope these people don’t come back.”

But Simeone also criticised the alleged behaviour of Real keeper Thibaut Courtois after Real’s goal.

“You see clearly that Courtois went to the fans [gesturing] and laughs and that makes this happen too,” said Simeone.

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