Espanyol Former President Questions Barça Field Celebration Provocation
The agreed pact had not been honored, and the individuals who charged onto the field did not intend to direct aggression at the Barça players. This was the perspective offered by Joan Collet, the former president of RCD Espanyol, who reflected on the Cornellà incident where a field invasion by a group of radical followers sparked a stampede. The Barcelona players, who were celebrating their league title on the grass, fled the scene in a rapid, improvised scramble as fans surged forward.
Collet did not shy away from his critical stance in an interview with RAC1. He described the Barcelona victory celebration as something that should not have happened and suggested it was a provocation tied to past events and to commitments previously agreed upon. He cited even Xavi, the Barça coach, acknowledging that the celebration might have been avoided given the context. His remarks cast a shadow over the moment of jubilation on the field at the RCD stadium.
To understand the sequence, Collet took listeners back to the moment when the final whistle blew, and the teams swapped embraces while the benches crowded the sidelines. In that instant, by all accounts, there was a sense of normal camaraderie. No one raised alarms as players hugged, jumped, and joined in the communal cheer. Collet emphasized that both clubs had an understanding about how to handle celebrations and that the Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police, had advised on the proper conduct for the moment of triumph. His narration suggested that the absence of immediate disruption did not equal consent for a riotous display.
Collet pushed further, asking what the crowd was trying to achieve by pressing onto the pitch. He labeled the act as provocation, arguing that if authorities issue a directive not to proceed through certain streets, then the aggressor bears responsibility. Yet he implied that those on the field had calculated a larger cause, asserting that the intent was not merely to cheer the win. In his view, the aggressors intended something drastic against the Barça players, but what actually occurred was a messy, chaotic celebration that got out of hand and did not reflect the spirit of fair play. He asserted that the individuals who sprinted onto the grass did not show a plan to attack the players, but rather to disrupt the moment and, in his judgment, threaten the celebratory atmosphere rather than the players directly.
The discussion painted a portrait of a tense atmosphere shaped by memories from the past and the delicate balance between enthusiastic fans and orderly, safe celebrations. Collet pointed to the delicate choreography that seasoned clubs often attempt when a title is won, with the expectation that security constraints and mutual understandings would prevent any violence. He noted that even moments of appreciation, such as Espanyol supporters applauding the champions, could be misread if the crowd misinterprets a celebratory cue. The tone of his remarks suggested a warning: a crowd can pivot quickly from shared joy to unpredictable actions if lines are crossed, and the responsibility for preventing aggression lies with those directing and monitoring the event as well as the groups involved.
In closing, Collet reiterated his conviction that the field invasion amounted to provocation rather than a spontaneous outbreak of aggression aimed at the Barça players. He urged a cautious interpretation of the events, reminding listeners that the overarching goal should be to safeguard the players, staff, and fans while preserving the integrity of the competition. The episode at Cornellà thus served as a reminder of how celebrations at the end of a championship run can carry unexpected risks, and how historical tensions can influence the behavior of crowds in high-stakes moments. The assessment of what happened remains a matter of debate, with different voices offering varying explanations about culpability and intention. (Goal)”