May 19- The climax to the Spanish league season luckily avoided tragedy when a barrier collapsed during the relegation clash between Osasuna and Real Betis, causing almost 70 injuries.
With so much focus on Atletico Madrid’s dramatic, title-winning draw at Barcelona, at the other end of the table the match in Pamplona was halted for around 30 minutes when the Osasuna’s opening goal prompted the barrier to give way and scores of travelling Betis fans spilled on to the pitch.
Around 60 fans were treated on site and others taken to hospital – including one carried off the pitch by a Real Betis player Alfred N’Diaye — but none suffered serious injury, according to the local Red Cross. The game ended 2-1 to Osasuna but they were condemned by results elsewhere and relegated after 14 seasons in the top flight.
They join already relegated Real Betis in the Spanish second division next season after a nail-biting final day of action when the Spanish professional league (LFP) decided there would be extended half-time breaks in the other three games involving relegation-threatened sides to allow the Osasuna-Betis match to catch up.
Valladolid, who were promoted in 2011-12, also went down following a 1-0 home defeat by Granada.