The Benfica ultras make a mess in San Sebastián and tarnish the Real Sociedad party

2023-11-09 09:50:49

Yesterday, the Ertzaintza arrested at least four people in the previous incidents that occurred around the Anoeta Stadium in the moments before the Champions League match between Real and Benfica, which resulted in at least 10 being treated in the emergency room. . When a good number of royalist fans were gathered in the Plaza de las Armerías, a usual meeting place in the moments prior to the Txuriurdines fans’ matches in their field, between fifty and sixty Benfica ultras, hooded and dressed in black the great Most of them burst onto Aragón Street. The Ertzaintza riot police deployed to the area had to carry out several charges to disperse them and several arrests were made.

Félix Morquecho / Javier Etxezarreta (EFE)

The incidents later spread to Avenida de Madrid, where flares, chairs and attacks with sticks were thrown at the royalist fans. After causing these incidents, the Lisbon ultras dispersed through the adjacent streets, where they once again caused incidents despite the presence of the Ertzaintza.

When the attack occurred, the Ertzaintza was not there, although it did not take long for them to arrive in the area. The police intervention, at first, resulted in four arrests, among which there were fans of both Real and Benfica. The president of Real, Jokin Aperribay, indicated last night that “a man from Gipuzkoa has been arrested, who is not a member, as happened in Rome and Benfica, where none of them were members.” The detainees, aged 21, 26, 32 and 42, have been transferred to the San Sebastián police station to carry out the necessary procedures.

Launching of flares during the meeting. Morquecho

The Benfica ultras had already been protagonists in previous European matches by launching flares. The Portuguese club itself already asked its followers before the Anoeta match for an “irreproachable attitude” throughout the match. However, at the start of the Champions League match, flares could be seen lit in the area where the Portuguese fans were located.

This happened today in Anoeta, with ultras of the
Benfica. They have thrown 3 flares into the public. Someone tell me how radicals can enter the field with flares and every time I carry a backpack with the sandwich I only need to undress. AWESOME. pic.twitter.com/KEiTaeV5BG

— Manu (@Manu545454) November 8, 2023

Already during the match, Benfica fans were located in Anoeta in the area designated for visiting fans, closely monitored by Ertzaintza troops. Despite this, they could not prevent flares from being thrown onto the pitch on three occasions – one of them hit the body of a Portuguese fan – so the referee, Englishman Anthony Taylor, was forced to stop play until they were removed from the field.

At the conclusion of the match, Mikel Oyarzabal, royalist captain, condemned the throwing of flares and showed his support for the fans who were attacked.

Aperribay explained after the meeting that “we will try to ensure that the people who have launched flares answer to justice. I hope they are stopped when leaving the field. “Several of them are identified.” In fact, Real Sociedad itself has announced through Twitter that the first identifications and accusations have been made in the same stadium of those allegedly responsible.

First identified and charged in the same Reale Arena and objects seized at the RS entrance

Last season, the behavior of the Lisbon ultras during their visit to Inter in the Champions League was already punished by UEFA, which prohibited the fans of the ‘eagles’ from attending their next European trip, which coincidentally was also to the Italian city, to face the ‘neroazzurro’ team again.

In that match, Portuguese fans lit several torches and threw them at the Italian fans who were in the stands below, causing some injuries, including an 8-year-old child. “These inappropriate behaviors not only compromise the international image of the club but also have serious economic impacts and prevent the team from having the support that helps achieve the victories that we want so much,” the club added.