Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone condemned supporters hurling objects at Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois but felt the Belgian played his part in provoking the crowd. Courtois’ Celebration Sparks Controversy in Madrid Derby.
Courtois turned to Atletico’s fans and celebrated after Eder Militao had put the visitors in front just after the hour mark at the Metropolitano Stadium.
The supporters reacted furiously to Courtois and pelted several items at him, including lighters and a plastic bag.
As a result, referee Mateo Busquets suspended play and forced both teams to depart the field.
In an effort to calm the Atletico supporters down, Simeone and some of his players, including captain Koke and Jose Maria Gimenez, asked them to stop misbehaving.
Luckily, the home fans were appeased when Angel Correa scored a dramatic late equaliser that was initially ruled out but was later overturned by VAR, and the match ended 1-1.
But the incident involving Courtois undeniably overshadowed the contest.
Speaking after the match, Simeone felt it needed to be a collective effort from all involved to avoid similar scenes in the future.
‘We all have to help,’ Simeone told DAZN.
‘If we provoke people, they get angry. You can celebrate a goal, but not by looking at the stands, taunting them and making gestures.
‘It is not justified, but neither is what followed.’
Koke added via DAZN: ‘It was a tense moment. But this can’t happen on a football pitch.
‘We are professionals, and we have to know where we are and be smart, but the other incidents can’t happen.
‘Players have to be smart. The protocol said if the incident was repeated, the match would be over.’
The result preserved both sides’ unbeaten start to the 2024-25 La Liga season, as Real Madrid sit second with 18 points while Atletico Madrid are in third on 16 points.
Barcelona lead the way in the Spanish top flight with 21 points from eight games but suffered their first loss of the season on Saturday in a shock 4-2 defeat to Osasuna.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.