From four months in prison to a fine, the events surrounding a 2017 derby in Madrid drew sharp attention from fans, authorities, and the media. The county court system grappled with a clash that began hours before a high-stakes Champions League semi-final between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at the Vicente Calderón. It was May 10, 2017, and the football world watched as tensions rose in the city where two capital clubs prepared to face off. This match, the anticipation around it, and the actions of a subset of fans would spark a long legal process that echoed beyond the stadium walls.
By seven in the evening, the atmosphere around the stadium was charged. Atletico supporters hung around local bars, hoping their side could overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg. Moments later, at about 7:15, a patrol of Real Madrid fans, escorted by officers from the Police Response Unit, arrived by bus from the White City sports complex and headed toward the old Mahou factory near the venue where the derby would unfold.
Images circulated widely of fans in Real Madrid jerseys, including some who wore them as a mark of provocation. The moment sparked intense commentary and questions about security and crowd control. A social media post later captured the sentiment of many observers: a call for no violence was echoed by officials and supporters alike.
At that juncture, several Atletico de Madrid supporters, among them eleven individuals previously convicted for public order offenses, began throwing objects toward rival fans and the police lines designated to protect them. The visible mix of jerseys and banners from opposing teams was interpreted by some in the crowd as a provocation, fueling confrontations that quickly drew in law enforcement.
16 arrested
As projectiles including bottles and cans flew toward the Madridistas, the supporters of the home team sought shelter with police assistance in a nearby garage. The confrontation forced authorities to intervene decisively to restore calm around the stadium complex. In the ensuing hours, around Calderón, twenty-five people, including five police officers, required medical attention from civil protection services after the disturbances.
Investigators from the Madrid Provincial Intelligence Brigade later used security camera footage to identify sixteen individuals, three of whom were under eighteen, charging them with disrupting public order and attacking authority the following day. In court, the head of Madrid Criminal Court No. 4 indicated that eleven of the sixteen detainees faced charges related to the clash between Atletico and Real Madrid in the lead-up to the derby.
These eleven defendants were sentenced in 2021 to four months in prison for public order offenses by a Madrid Criminal Court. On appeal, the sentence was reduced due to delays in the judicial process, ultimately resulting in a one-month and fifteen-day term, along with a three-month fine based on a daily wage rate. This outcome reflected the application of the relevant legal provisions, including Article 71.2 of the Criminal Code.
“Suppressing Freedom”
The court noted that the convicted individuals, as followers of Atletico de Madrid, used violence against people and impeded the freedom of others to exercise their own rights. Yet the judges contended that the actions did not create a pervasive public disturbance worthy of a broader social alarm; rather, they disrupted order around the stadium and disrupted the experience of attendees and security personnel. The incident, they concluded, disturbed the general calm of those present but did not trigger an atmosphere of widespread fear.
According to the verdict, the acts of the Ultras led to concern for bystanders and security staff, yet they did not necessarily amount to a severe, long-lasting breach of public order that would extend beyond the event itself.
Racism in football
The case was part of a broader pattern of inflammatory incidents surrounding Madrid derbies. In one high-profile episode, a Brazilian striker was targeted with racist abuse during a match at the Metropolitano earlier in the season. The Madrid Prosecutor’s Office pursued charges, and LaLiga and other bodies condemned the behavior as part of broader efforts to curb violence and discrimination. The case remains under scrutiny by the appropriate sports and legal authorities.
After the events, Atletico publicly condemned the behavior, and in some cases, membership privileges or affiliations with the club were reconsidered for those implicated. The overall trend shows that violent behavior, especially with racist overtones, tends to attract swift attention from clubs, authorities, and disciplinary bodies.
Today, such violence often occurs outside stadiums as well as inside. Advances in stadium surveillance have helped authorities identify culprits more quickly, while fan groups sometimes try to warn fellow supporters via megaphones. The dynamics around derby day continue to drive efforts to improve safety and reduce the risk of violence around major football matches.