Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid’s derby on Sunday was suspended in the second half after supporters hurled missiles onto the pitch.
Play was stopped in the 69th minute at the Civitas Metropolitano just after the visitors had taken the lead through Eder Militao.
Shortly after Madrid went in front, multiple objects, notably several lighters and a plastic bag containing an unknown substance, were launched onto the field behind Thibaut Courtois’ goal.
Referee Mateo Busquets decided to pause the game and ordered both sets of players back to their dressing rooms.
Some Atletico players, including Jose Maria Gimenez and Koke, went over to the stands to try and reason with supporters.
Atleti manager Diego Simeone soon followed to try and calm tensions after speaking to the referee.
The ultras behind Courtois’ goal were seen sporting masks to conceal their identities, and there had been talk in the Spanish press leading up to the game about the possibility of troublemaking on the day of the derby with their focus centred on Vinicius Junior, who they have targeted with racial abuse in the past.
La Liga sought to clamp down on these ultras prior to the game, saying in a statement on Saturday: “LaLiga wishes to announce that it will proceed to formally report and request the immediate arrest of the instigators behind a hate campaign seeking to promote racist and derogatory acts at the upcoming match between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid.
“The aforementioned campaign constitutes the crime of incitement to hatred, as clearly defined in the Penal Code. LaLiga vigorously condemns these actions that – directly or indirectly – encourage, promote and incite hatred against an individual, in this case, the player Vinicius Junior, because of his race.
“These actions also involve the aggravating circumstances outlined in sections 3 and 4 of Article 510 of the Penal Code, as ‘the acts are such to disturb public peace.’ LaLiga will not tolerate such behaviour under any circumstances.”
PA announcements ordered fans to start behaving or the game could be brought to a premature end. However, the match was able to restart at 22:45 local time.
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