Atlético de Madrid expels Frente Atlético
After the extremely serious incidents, the Club created a specific commission to gather information and take action. Upon receiving the police report, that identified the arrested people involved in the massive fight as members of Frente Atlético, this decision has been made.
Given the serious events that took place in Madrid Rio in the hours prior to the Atlético de Madrid - Deportivo de la Coruña match last Sunday, Club Atlético de Madrid immediately created a specific commission to analyse everything that happened and take the appropriate measures.
Said committee has worked intensely in the last 48 hours in collaboration with the State’s law enforcement and several bodies in order to receive detailed information about the events that took place and be able to make decisions consistent with the reality of the facts.
Today, the Club has received the official minutes of the match from the Security Coordinator of the National Police, in which are described the events that occurred as well as the names of the people who were identified and/or arrested by the Police for having directly or indirectly participated in the massive fight.
Among those identified are a total of 15 people who claim to be followers of Atlético de Madrid, 7 of which were Pass Members of the Club, 1 was a Non Season Pass Member and 7 are not members of the entity. All the members have been immediately expelled, being permanently banned as members, without the possibility of becoming one again in the future, while those who were not members will never be able to become one.
Nevertheless, authorities are keeping the investigation open and if in the next hours more members of the Club are identified, we will proceed with the same forcefulness.
Furthermore, proven by the Police and reflected on the record that the identified people who acted in the incidents in an organized and planned manner belong to Frente Atlético, the Club has made the decision to expel Frente Atlético as an official supporters’ club, starting today, and consequently cease any relationship with said group. Additionally, the Club will put all the means at its disposal to prevent the display of banners or other distinctive elements of said group inside the Vicente Calderón Stadium.
The dissolution of Frente Atlético in legal terms is not within the Club’s competence, since it is a private association or entity with its own legal personality and, therefore, cannot be executed by the Club, so it will be the competent authorities the ones that must assess and/or execute such dissolution.
Likewise, the Club will persecute any other collective group, supporters’ club or small group, that might arise in the future under any other name, that doesn't radically condemn violence or that uses the name of Atlético de Madrid or its facilities to defend political, racist or xenophobic ideas.
Club Atlético de Madrid requests the support of sports organizations, public institutions, Law Enforcement Authorities of the State, the media and of all its fans to be able to identify all the people whose behaviour threatens the essence of the sport and the values inherent to it, in order to proceed to their immediate expulsion from football.
On the other hand, the Club would like to inform all their Pass Members who have seats located in the Youth Stands situated on the South End of the Vicente Calderon Stadium, and who are the vast majority who attend each match at the Stadium in good faith, with enthusiasm and with the sole purpose of encouraging Atleti, that they can remain in their seats as normal for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season. To do this, they will be able to access the Stadium as they have been doing so far, following the procedure and the established rules for that zone, i.e., presenting their ID card and membership card at the Stadium turnstiles.
Once this season ends, and before the start of the following season, the Club publicly announce which policy will be established in relation to the youth stand or the cheering stand, with the sole purpose of having in the Vicente Calderón Stadium an adequate space for all those Atléticos who want to enjoy the matches cheering on their team at all times and respecting the values of the sport.
The Club calls the thousands of members, supporters’ club members and Atlético de Madrid supporters throughout Spain and around the world, now more than ever, to stay united and cheer the team, both in matches played at the Vicente Calderón Stadium as well at other stadiums, with the joy, excitement and intensity so characteristic of Atlético fans, but with the upmost respect for the opposing team and its fans.
From Atlético de Madrid, we trust that these tragic events will not be repeated and a new era of harmony and respect will begin between all fans in the world of football.
