According to As, some of Real Madrid's traveling fans had the misfortune of being attacked by extremist Celta fans as they traveled to the Balaidos stadium to watch the match. The incident has sparked widespread concern and has once again brought the issue of violence outside of soccer matches to the forefront.
Reports suggest that after collecting their tickets for the match at the Hesperia Hotel in Vigo, the Real Madrid fans followed instructions to get to the stadium via Eugenio Krapf Street. However, on this downhill road they were met by a group of extreme Celta fans who had been waiting for a long time. Many of these extremist fans were masked and had obviously come prepared.
Witnesses said Real Madrid fans were verbally abused and attacked on the street. A female Real Madrid fan took to social media to reveal that her mother and some of her friends were seriously injured in the attack, with one of them unable to breathe as a result of a heavy blow to the chest, and ultimately needing the help of the National Police. Fortunately, the situation did not deteriorate further, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.
In addition to the physical injuries, some Real Madrid fans also complained that an attempt was made to snatch the Spanish flag they were carrying and eventually succeeded in doing so. One victim told As newspaper, "It's such a shame that you can't carry the Spanish flag in a soccer match." This act not only violated the fans' personal property rights, but also trampled on the dignity of the Spanish nation.
A clash between extreme Celta fans and members of Real Madrid's Ultra Sur reportedly took place on the same street in 2022. Ultra Sur had been expelled from the Real Madrid stands at the time, but the incident still casts a deep shadow over fans on both sides. Tournament organizers should strengthen security measures to ensure the personal and property safety of fans; fan organizations should also strengthen self-discipline to avoid violent clashes; at the same time, all sectors of society should also strengthen their attention to and supervision of the problem of off-field violence in soccer matches, so as to jointly create a civilized and harmonious soccer environment.
