Both sets of players were taken off the pitch shortly after Real Madrid opened the scoring (Image: ZIGGO SPORT)
Both sets of players were taken off the pitch during the Madrid derby after furious fans threw lighters and other objects onto the playing surface. Tensions boiled over shortly after Eder Militao opened the scoring for at the home of their cross-city rivals.
The goal sparked chaotic scenes in the stands, with Atletico fans hurling objects at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after he celebrated in front of them. Play was quickly suspended as referee Mateo Busquets Ferrer took swift action to protect the players.
Before heading down the tunnel, a handful of Atletico players approached the furious fans behind the goal in an attempt to calm them down. Diego Simeone was spotted pleading with them to stop throwing objects so that play would be allowed to continue.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone pleaded with fans to stop throwing things onto the pitch (Image: ITV SPORT)
At one point, the unsavoury scenes threatened to boil over into outright violence with the stadium announcer warning the match would be abandoned if order was not restored.
The situation eventually calmed down and the game was able to continue with the two teams each completing a short warm-up before resuming play.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, who was covering the match as a pundit on ITV, was highly critical of the Atletico fans behind the goal and urged Spanish authorities to crack down on disorder and violent behaviour at football matches.
“There is something that is not right,” he said. “That group of fans is very well known for [that] behaviour. That group of fans, the ultras of Atletico Madrid, go to the youth Champions League because there is not so much police and they come out with outrageous behaviour.
“I don’t think Atletico Madrid have been strong enough on their own ultras and it gets to a point where things get out of hand. In certain parts of Spain, if the clubs are not strong enough they believe they can get away with it even though there are more police.
“In some cases, some individual behaviour has been pointed out by all the fans. In spite of that, that particular group of fans protect themselves. La Liga have been trying to [stop] all of this through taking people to court, people going to prison as a consequence.
“There is perhaps a law in Spain that has to be a little bit stronger, but in any case, La Liga are using all the weapons they can to stop any kind of things but not much has happened.”
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