Atlético de Madrid Expel Nine Members Following Derby Incidents
Atlético "also included a rule in its internal regulations prohibiting any element or garment that conceals a person’s face within the stadium, in order to prevent the concealment of their identity."
Atlético de Madrid announced this Friday the conclusion of the investigation into the incidents that occurred during the derby against Real Madrid on September 29, with the permanent expulsion of nine members "for actions classified as very serious in the club’s internal regulations," as stated in a notice on their website.
"Throughout this month, our Security Department has worked to identify those involved in these incidents, reviewing all available audiovisual materials and collaborating with the police, concluding this process with the initiation of a permanent expulsion file for 9 members due to actions classified as very serious in the club's internal regulations," stated the Madrid-based club.
"Additionally, the club implemented a preventive measure of not selling tickets for away matches in Seville, Vic, Paris, Palma de Mallorca, and Prague to season ticket holders in the fan section while the investigation was ongoing," the statement notes.
The club further reiterated this Friday its "strong condemnation of any expression of violence" and its "commitment to fighting against such attitudes that have no place in football, do not represent the general sentiment of our supporters, and damage the image of Atlético de Madrid."
Atlético launched the investigation due to "the throwing of objects from a part of the lower south stand" of the Metropolitano stadium towards Thibaut Courtois during the LaLiga match against Real Madrid. This incident resulted in a partial stadium closure (the lower south stand section) for the match against Leganés, following the reduction of a three-match ban to one by the Appeals Committee of the Spanish Football Federation, after reviewing the appeal presented by the club.
"Simultaneously, the Anti-Violence Commission proposed a full stadium closure for two weeks and a fine of 65,000 euros," the report states.
During the same period, "a small group of fans made gestures at the Da Luz Stadium in Lisbon that the UEFA Appeals Committee deemed racist and discriminatory," according to the club.
"For this reason, we were sanctioned with a ban on selling tickets for an away Champions League match, with the condition that this type of behavior does not recur over the next year, in addition to a fine of 30,000 euros," the statement adds.
In Friday's announcement, Atlético also confirmed that, "with the identification process complete and the permanent expulsion of 9 members, the sale of tickets for away matches to season ticket holders in the fan section is resuming normally for the upcoming game in Valladolid."
"Applications are now open to all members (both season ticket holders and non-holders), under the usual conditions (all tickets are nominative and non-transferable and can only be used by the designated member) and with the same allocation criteria (priority by membership seniority or average seniority in the case of groups of up to 6 members)," the statement continues.
"Additionally, to facilitate travel arrangements for our members and allow them to make hotel or travel reservations as soon as their ticket is confirmed, from now on, for all away matches, the application period will close 24 hours after the match schedule is confirmed. Immediately afterward, within the next 48 hours, tickets will be allocated, and payment must be completed," the club informs.