The sporting aspect took a back seat at the Derbi Madrileno on Sunday evening. The focus was on Thibaut Courtois and a few die-hards.
After the scandalous incidents at the city derby in Vienna and another scandal at the European Cup game AS Roma against Athletic Bilbao, now it’s Madrid’s turn. The scene of the crime: the Civitas Metropolitano, Atletico’s stadium, which is as full as never before with 70,112 fans.
Derbi Madrileño, Real are guests of the Colchoneros. It’s a 1-1, secured by the “eternal” Angel Correa for the hosts deep into injury time, thus stealing two points from the Blancos at the last moment.
But the main topic of discussion during and after this inner-city clash was the events after Real’s opening goal by Eder Militao (64′). There was celebrating in front of the goal, celebrating on the sidelines – and of course Thibaut Courtois was also celebrating after the 1-0.
Provocations in front of the goal?
What made the mood change so much?
Courtois, the 31-year-old Belgian, who wore the red-and-white shirt from 2011 to 2014, openly displays his joy in the direction of the partly masked Atletico ultras, who are egging him on behind him. Quite provocative. And according to Marca, there had already been provocation before the 0-1, including “Courtois-stirb” (die Courtois) chants. So the situation is already tense, the Atletico people feel offended. The mood is now boiling over.
Objects are flying onto the field. The young referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer (30, 25 La Liga appearances) clears the players in his first Derbi from the field. A 20-minute interruption follows, the game is on the line, before it is then brought to an end and Atletico forces the equalizer.
Atletico and the police are dealing with the scandal
Great joy for scorer Correa, great satisfaction for the hosts characterized the situation after the VAR check determined the validity of the goal. After the final whistle and the handshakes between coaches and players, the reactions were eagerly awaited.
Atletico condemned the events and announced in a statement that they would work with the police to address the situation. One of the perpetrators had already been identified, and the club would “apply the internal regulation intended for very serious cases to the persons involved in this incident”.
Simeone: Provocations cannot be excused
Coach Diego Simeone agreed: “The person who threw the lighter shouldn’t be allowed to come back.” But the Argentine was mainly attacking Courtois and is also calling for consequences for “the person who provoked it”. Because: “If that doesn’t happen, you can get away with anything.”
“We don’t need these people in our stands, but people who drive us, who think of the club and the team,” said Simeone, who rushed to the fan block during the incident and tried to appease the Ultras. However, “we protagonists must also help to ensure that such things do not happen,” said the not infrequently highly emotional “El Cholo” – and explicitly included himself. Provocations cannot be excused – “be it Simeone, Courtois, Vinicius, Messi, Griezmann. Whatever their names are.”
No statement from the Real Madrid professionals – Courtois out
Incidentally, it was not the first time this season that no player from the visitors appeared before the media to comment on the game. Not even Courtois, who, incidentally, will be out for a while with an adductor injury he suffered on Sunday, probably for about two weeks. At the press conference, coach Carlo Ancelotti only commented on the interruption of the game caused by the referee: “I think it was correct. We clarified a few things in the dressing room. You don’t like to interrupt the game, but the referee did the right thing.”