Fifteen days ago, nobody cared. Then the tragic incidents around the Vicente Calderon changed everything. At first it looked as if the Spanish League (LFP) and the Spanish FA would do what they always do; nothing. But, this time it was different and so the powers that control the game in Spain finally decided that enough was enough and that the image of the La Liga had been tarnished one too many times.
Since the violent scenes two weeks ago, Spaniards have been calling for action to be taken. The media have been speaking non-stop about the various ways that clubs can clamp down on some of their most radical supporters. For years, racial and homophobic abuse has been commonly heard at Spanish grounds. Each time it happened in the past, it was played down or ignored. Very often, the only time such abuse was reported, it was by the foreign press based in Spain. But, things have reached boiling point and so the LFP have announced that they will now be bringing clubs into account for the actions of their fans. Some felt that it was only an empty promise and that when the time came for action to be taken, nothing would be done. They would be wrong.
Last week Real Madrid was reported to the Spanish FA for abuse directed at Leo Messi and Catalonia. The chants are nothing new and they didn’t even get a mention in the referee’s report but Javier Tebas, the LFP President, did and so he ‘gave the order to report them’ to the RFEF. Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano were reported the next day for chants too and another two clubs found their way onto the RFEF’s naughty list. But what about the club at the centre of it all?
Atletico de Madrid may have been slow to react after the events at the Calderon but after an initial denial that they had any responsibility over what happened, they then announced that they were banning El Frente Atletico from the Vicente Calderon. The group are one of the club’s most radical set of supporters but they are also one of the most vocal and they believe, and so too do many other supporters, that without them, there were be nobody singing at the ground. Is this true? Well against Villarreal, we got a sort of answer.
Whilst it was only one game and a game that was played on a cold, wet December night, the truth is that without the Ultras at the Calderon, the atmosphere was weak. At the start, supporters around the ground sang and tried to show that they could create an atmosphere but as the game progressed and lacked intensity, so too did the atmosphere. Fans did try their best to get things going but it wasn’t the same. What is more it seemed to affect the players on the pitch.
Now, this can all be played down to the fact that it was played late on Sunday and the weather persuaded fans to watch the game at home but a few more games like this and we might see the Ultras return. On the walk from the ground to the metro, Atletico fans were not talking about the defeat to Villarreal but about the atmosphere and how long the club would stick to their guns. If any other club is considering taking similar action to Atletico, last night would not convince them. But it is still early days and at least the LFP, so far appear, to be winning the battle.
Chants against Real Madrid are always heard in the Vicente Calderon. So too are some homophobic and racial chants but for the first time in years, there was silence. There was no abuse aimed at any one and it was not before time. It did not go unnoticed. For many it was a welcome change and most would like it to stay that way.
Right now clubs are on a knife-edge and before games, PA announcers are stressing that any abuse may be reported to the Spanish FA and the club could get punished. It may only be a week but it seems to be working but the big question is, are the LFP and the RFEF in this for the long haul or will they lose interest soon and let things go back to the way they were? A big question but with the league’s reputation on the line it would be a risky move not to take it seriously.
