UNJUSTLY PUNISHED
Summary of the article published in Relevo on October 19th, 2024
The derby on September 29 and its aftermath have sparked major controversy, generating strong reactions among Atlético peñistas. The sanctions proposed by the Competition and Anti-Violence Committees, along with the club’s decision to restrict ticket sales for the fan section, have been especially controversial. The Atlético fanbase perceives this as an unfair campaign against their team, partly driven by their eternal rival.
Carmen García, president of the Peña Atlética de Alemania, recently shared some direct responses in an interview that reflect the discontent of many fans. From Germany, where she has lived since 1989, Carmen said, “It seems that a campaign to harass and take down Atlético has been created, led by the media, politicians, institutions, and other fan bases.” In her opinion, Atlético is treated unequally, as any aggressive behavior at the Metropolitano is punished disproportionately: “Any aggressive behavior on the field is intolerable, but if it happens at the Metropolitano, it’s three times worse. When Real Madrid is involved, everything is condemned—maybe because Ms. Alegría spends a lot of time in the Bernabéu box.” With this remark, Carmen García suggests that certain public figures influence sanctioning decisions, creating a distorted and negative image of Atlético supporters.
Regarding the club’s recent decision not to sell tickets for the fan section at certain games, García expressed her disagreement, believing Atlético has given in to public pressure without adequately defending the majority of its fans, who are peaceful and loyal: “The club has bowed to attacks. It has not spoken for the majority of fans who are loyal, civilized, and peaceful, who don’t want troublemakers in our stadium either. I don’t think the club itself sees this as fair, but they have yielded to such pressure.” Carmen emphasized the need to sanction violent individuals individually without punishing the rest of the fanbase.
On the topic of Frente Atlético, a group that divides opinions, Carmen also commented that it is essential to expel any violent person from stadiums but added nuance to her stance, saying, “If Frente Atlético stands for violence, they should be expelled. But if it means choreographies, banners, or fighting for the club crest, then no. Although I don’t know much about them, I think it’s important to differentiate.” With this statement, she highlighted the importance of separating violent elements from those who support the club respectfully.
Carmen García’s comments reflect the frustration of many peñistas who consider the imposed sanctions disproportionate and resent the negative image that is being portrayed of Atlético and its fans.
You can read the original article from Relevo here. Google translation