Sunday evening’s dramatic derby with metropolis rivals Actual Madrid put Atletico Madrid’s relationship with the unconventional block of followers that collect inside their floor beneath a brand new world highlight.
After Actual Madrid took the lead, Atletico captain Koke and supervisor Diego Simeone pleaded for calm with balaclava-wearing supporters, who had thrown objects onto the pitch at rival goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for his supposedly provocative celebrations.
The match was suspended for 20 minutes earlier than Angel Correa’s Ninety fifth-minute equaliser gave Simeone’s aspect a 1-1 draw.
After the ultimate whistle, Atletico’s gamers celebrated in entrance of the part the place the small variety of supporters concerned within the object-throwing recurrently congregate — behind the purpose on the south finish of their Estadio Metropolitano, which on Sunday welcomed a report crowd of 70,112.
The entire evening shone a highlight on the extra radical components of Atletico’s help, particularly the Frente Atletico ‘ultras’ (followers marked out for his or her choreographed and fanatical help) and their lengthy and sophisticated relationship with the membership’s hierarchy and the present group.
It additionally drew additional consideration to the stormy relationship between the Spanish capital’s two greatest soccer golf equipment, together with historic grievances on the Atletico aspect, and the racist abuse Actual Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has suffered round current conferences between the edges.
Right here, The Athletic dives into the deeper questions behind what occurred.
Who’re the Frente Atletico?
The Frente Atletico was shaped in 1982, initially influenced by ultras actions in Italy and the UK. Atletico recognised it as an official supporters membership and inspired them as they introduced ambiance with chants and banners, motivated gamers and attracted greater crowds to the stadium. Frente leaders obtained to know then-Atletico president Jesus Gil, sometimes socialising with Atletico gamers and showing on Spanish radio reveals within the Eighties.
Over time, Frente members holding extra radical right-wing views took management of the group. They had been additionally attracted by money-making alternatives, as Atletico facilitated the sale of blocks of match tickets that the Frente management may management. This continued after Atletico had been transformed into a non-public firm in 1992, with Gil and movie producer Enrique Cerezo taking management in a transfer Spain’s supreme courtroom later deemed unlawful — however no motion adopted because the courtroom additionally mentioned that the statute of limitations had handed.
Atletico’s Metropolitano had a report crowd on Sunday evening (Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photos)
There was usually violence concerned with the Frente. Within the Eighties, some members would ‘defend’ Atletico followers from opposition ultras at away video games. There have been additionally clashes with police.
The group grew to become more and more radical. Frente members attacked and killed Actual Sociedad supporter Aitor Zabaleta close to Atletico’s previous Vicente Calderon stadium in 1998. Regardless of this, Frente retained its privileges with the membership, persevering with to promote match tickets and storing its banners and drums on the Calderon.
Extra just lately, in November 2014, Deportivo La Coruna extremely Javier ‘Jimmy’ Romero Taboada was killed throughout an organised combat between Depor and Atletico followers earlier than a sport on the Calderon.
How may such a bunch nonetheless be allowed into Atletico’s stadium?
After Romero Taboada’s loss of life, Atletico revoked the Frente’s official standing and banned some members from the Calderon. Over the following few years, Atletico started to modernise on and off the pitch, most notably transferring to the Estadio Metropolitano on Madrid’s outskirts. Twelve consecutive seasons of Champions League soccer beneath Simeone have introduced further income and standing as one in every of Europe’s elite golf equipment.
However Frente-aligned garments, banners and chants are nonetheless part of the Metropolitano’s matchday expertise. Incidents are much less frequent however nonetheless critical, together with an Atletico extremely displaying a Nazi swastika at a sport in Might 2018 and a far-right banner flown of their part of the stadium throughout that yr’s Europa League remaining towards Marseille in Lyon.
The scene inside Atletico’s floor earlier than kick-off on Sunday evening (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Photos)
There have additionally been battles for management of Atletico’s most radical followers and the moneymaking alternatives introduced by the Frente ‘model’, equivalent to ‘official’ scarves and T-shirts. A person was hospitalised in January 2018 after a combat between members of various hardcore Atletico teams exterior the Metropolitano. A brand new radical group, ‘Suburbios Agency’, has emerged — its members are already banned from attending residence video games, however generally help the group away.
In sensible phrases, particularly throughout the stadium, the ‘Frente’ is now extra of an thought than an precise group of paid-up members. Ultras from the Nineties and 2000s are older and fewer more likely to attend matches. The membership recognise an ‘animation part’ of followers behind the purpose however they’ve lengthy ended the apply of facilitating blocks of tickets on the market by ultras leaders.
Atletico say they’ll solely ban people from the stadium after they’ve dedicated a criminal offense and that it’s unimaginable (and unlawful) to take collective motion towards teams of individuals with out proof of wrongdoing. “We can not expel 200 folks from the stadium as a result of somebody believes they belong to a sure group or as a result of they put on a sure T-shirt,” a membership spokesperson instructed The Athletic. “The picture may be terrible, however there needs to be a criminal offense dedicated for motion to be taken.”
After Sunday’s occasions, an Atletico assertion mentioned the membership was dedicated to “working with the police to find these concerned, one in every of whom has already been recognized”.
Had been they concerned within the racist abuse of Vinicius Jr?
Final December, 4 members of Frente Atletico had been charged over the hanging of an effigy dressed to resemble Vinicius Jr from a bridge close to Actual Madrid’s coaching floor in January 2023. The model was hung subsequent to a 16-metre banner that learn “Madrid hates Actual” and was displayed hours earlier than a Madrid derby within the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
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After final season’s Metropolitano ‘derbi’, police recognized people who had been caught on digital camera racially abusing the Brazilian. Atletico revoked their standing as membership members, banning them from the stadium. Equally, when one ‘fan’ racially abused Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams in April, he was additionally expelled and banned.
Earlier than Sunday’s sport, messages on social media circulated with some obvious Atletico followers urging supporters to put on masks to the sport to keep away from detection by cameras when making racist insults, particularly calling Vinicius Jr a monkey.
Actual Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois throws a lighter off the pitch (Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photos)
No racist abuse of Vinicus Jr was reported on Sunday, though there have been chants towards him when Madrid’s group bus arrived and whistles for his each intervention on the pitch.
As a substitute, the main focus switched to Courtois, a former Atletico participant who moved from Chelsea to Actual Madrid in 2018.
How does Atletico’s self-image match with all this?
Atletico followers, gamers and membership officers have traditionally recognized themselves as scrappy underdogs who combat towards authority and energy — particularly towards their richer and extra glamorous metropolis rivals. That self-image is deeply rooted throughout the membership and most Atletico followers are satisfied the media and authorities help Actual Madrid.
Atletico went 14 years with no win towards Actual Madrid (1999-2013) and nonetheless really feel that any victory for Atletico over Madrid is a victory for the little man.
“These are tough instances and other people determine with us as we’re preventing towards many adversities,” mentioned then-Atletico midfielder Tiago in 2014 as Simeone’s aspect received that season’s league title — their third in 37 years. “We’re like Robin Hood.”
Simeone’s model of soccer — with its emphasis on laborious work and physicality — matches Atletico’s traditions and the emotional reference to the stadium has performed a key function. After every sport, Atletico’s gamers salute all 4 corners of the stadium, beginning with their extra hardcore followers.
On Sunday, when the sport was stopped after objects had been thrown at Courtois, Atletico captain Koke and long-serving defender Jose Maria Gimenez ran behind the purpose to talk with the followers within the space the objects had come from. Simeone additionally approached them, making a ‘relax’ gesture.
After the sport, as typical, Atletico’s gamers gathered on the sting of the penalty space to applaud the Fondo Sur (the hardcore group of followers who congregate behind the purpose on the stadium’s south finish), which many felt might be seen as a gesture of help for his or her behaviour through the sport.
Simeone in entrance of the Fondo Sur part at Atletico’s floor on Sunday (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Photos)
What do most Atletico followers suppose?
Because the Frente is just not an official group, no one is aware of precisely what number of members it has or what number of recurrently attend video games. Some ultras who lead chants behind the purpose have usually lined their faces with scarves or balaclavas to keep away from identification.
The overwhelming majority of Atletico followers don’t just like the Frente in any respect. Many stay away from the bars the place the hardcore ultras drink earlier than video games and in addition avoid them within the stadium.
Divides throughout the fanbase are clear. In November 2022, the Fondo Sur left their space empty for the primary half of a sport towards Espanyol, protesting the group’s poor shows. Followers in different areas of the stadium loudly whistled them once they did enter.
On Sunday night, when the referee took the gamers off the pitch within the second half, this divide was once more evident. Amid a surreal silence in many of the floor, ultras behind the purpose continued to chant and soar and down, solely to be met by whistles from different areas of the bottom. There have been additionally whistles when the group went to applaud the Fondo Sur on the ultimate whistle.
Atletico gamers acknowledging followers after the ultimate whistle on Sunday (Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Photos)
“I used to be there and I used to be a kind of who whistled the Frente,” mentioned one Atletico fan (because the supporters consulted for this text work in soccer, they spoke anonymously to guard their place). “Atletico followers are fed up and embarrassed by what occurred.”
One other supporter mentioned: “Ninety-nine per cent of the folks in that stand are regular, however those that dominate are the brainless ones.”
Atletico’s ‘embattled underdog’ id can mix into a sense of persecution amongst common followers, not simply Atletico’s extra radical ultras. Many agreed when Simeone mentioned after Sunday’s sport that Courtois bears duty for the way in which he celebrated Madrid’s opening purpose. TV photos confirmed him mouthing, ‘Vamos’ (come on) as he moved his hand in the direction of the stands — a proactive gesture, within the view of residence followers. Moments earlier than the purpose, chants of, “Courtois die” had been heard.
Courtois is just not widespread amongst Atletico followers. Since becoming a member of Actual Madrid, they really feel he has been disrespectful in the direction of his former group, who he represented from 2011 to 2014. Like all gamers who’ve made greater than 100 Atletico appearances, he has a plaque on the ‘centenary gamers’ stroll’ on the stadium concourse. As they at all times do at any time when Courtois performs on the Metropolitano with Actual, Atletico followers left garbage and different particles on his plaque.
What does the remainder of Spanish soccer make of Atletico’s hardcore followers?
After Romero Taboada’s loss of life in 2014, there was a concerted effort from Spanish soccer authorities to weaken ultras’ affect, even attempting to maintain them out of stadiums.
Many different golf equipment — together with Actual Madrid and Barcelona — have banned people and teams. They’ve additionally launched their very own ‘official’ animation sections, that are extra tightly managed by membership authorities, so behaviour could be extra simply policed.
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La Liga’s status took a battering following the worldwide uproar on the racist abuse that Vinicius Jr suffered in Valencia’s Mestalla stadium final yr and the league’s executives have since reacted way more critically to any incidents of racism inside or round Spanish stadiums, and in addition on-line.
Vinicius Jr has been racially abused by followers at a number of La Liga grounds (Aitor Alcalde/Getty Photos)
La Liga’s official response on Sunday night to the occasions contained in the stadium was comparatively restrained, with a submit on X saying there was “zero tolerance for any acts of violence inside or exterior our stadiums”.
Native protection of the occasions, which made many headlines in worldwide media, was additionally fairly restrained. There have been no offended op-eds calling for the Metropolitano to be closed or for the whole banning of all ultras from Spanish stadiums.
The Spanish Soccer Federation and La Liga have but to resolve what punishment Atletico will obtain for Sunday’s incident. They may attempt to shut components of the stadium for just a few video games, however which may be tough to impose. Actual Betis efficiently appealed such a sanction when a Sevilla participant was hit by an object thrown from the stands in January 2022. Atletico additionally efficiently appealed in April when a bit of the stand was closed for 2 video games after Williams was racially abused, arguing that it was unfair to punish an entire group for the behaviour of 1 particular person.
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What about Atletico’s worldwide picture and the membership’s medium-term future?
The evolution of Atletico into one in every of Europe’s elite golf equipment continued this summer season, with the funding of greater than €200million (£166.6m; $222.2m) in massive worldwide stars, together with Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher.
It added to a sense that Atletico’s hierarchy need to take an enormous leap ahead. This summer season, €70m was raised from the membership’s shareholders, which embrace UK-Israeli firm Quantum Pacific and U.S. buyers Ares Administration Company. Chief govt Miguel Angel Gil Marin laid the primary stone at a brand new coaching floor on a website beside the Metropolitano.
Many throughout the Spanish soccer business consider that Gil Marin and Cerezo will promote their controlling curiosity in Atletico to overseas buyers. Sunday’s disgraceful scenes, which echoed all over the world, won’t have helped drum up curiosity.
When reporters requested Cerezo on Sunday afternoon in regards to the on-line hate messages about Vinicius Jr, he first mentioned, “At Atletico Madrid, I don’t contemplate that there’s anybody anti-racist or racist.” Later, on the stadium, he clarified to broadcasters DAZN that he “meant to say that all of us have a duty to combat towards racism”.
Cerezo (centre) in dialog with Actual Madrid counterpart Florentino Perez (Oscar J Barroso/Europa Press by way of Getty Photos)
Atletico are eager to mission a extra fashionable constructive picture and have launched campaigns within the stadium and on-line to coach their followers.
“’We Love Soccer’ is a mission to channel all of our actions aimed to construct a sport the place range, inclusion, respect and tolerance encourage society,” the membership’s web site says.
On Sunday, Atletico shortly launched an announcement saying the membership was working with police to determine all people who threw objects onto the pitch and that they are going to be banned from attending video games. Since Sunday, Atletico have additionally modified their statutes in order that followers who put on masks to keep away from identification could be instantly expelled from the stadium.
There may be an consciousness at Atletico — throughout the membership and among the many followers — that their picture has been badly broken. The overwhelming majority of followers are adamant that the Frente doesn’t signify their views and the membership say they’re doing all they’ll to stamp out their affect — however the connection remains to be sturdy between the group and the part of the stand the place there’s persevering with anti-social (and worse) behaviour.
“The picture of the gamers speaking to followers carrying balaclavas, after which going to applaud the stand on the finish of the sport, was horrible,” mentioned one other Atletico fan. “The membership nonetheless has a variety of work to do.”
(Prime picture: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Photos)
