The coach, the players and the club reproach the attitude of the fans who launched them against Roma fans
MADRID, 27 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Athletic Club condemned “the unacceptable acts” of a “minority” of the 3,000 red and white fans who witnessed the 1-1 draw against Roma at the Olympic Stadium in the Italian capital, when they threw flares at rival fans and on the field.
“Athletic Club wants to express its strongest condemnation of the unacceptable acts carried out by a minority of people who went to the Europa League match against AS Roma and who were located in the visiting stands,” the Basque team wrote in a statement after the game.
Athletic captains Óscar de Marcos and Iñaki Williams also went to the visiting stands to censure these acts and the coach, Ernesto Valverde, who also reacted on the pitch, was blunt afterwards. “Yes, for all of us football is a party, coming here, a lot of people have come to cheer us on, to experience a special day of returning to Europe,” he said.
“We can’t stain that by throwing a flare at the rival crowd. That’s not good, that’s not football. I don’t like it, it doesn’t represent everyone. It was a stain on the game,” he added in statements to Movistar Plus collected by Europa Press.
For its part, the Bilbao club was also forceful in its note after the match, in its desire to “show zero tolerance for situations such as the one that occurred at the Olympic Stadium in Rome”, “contravening safety regulations and dirtying the image of our fans.” , known for her exemplary behavior and her unconditional support for the team in any circumstance.”
“These attitudes do not represent the historical values of Athletic Club, such as respect, sportsmanship and coexistence. The club always works to promote a positive atmosphere at sporting events, both in San Mamés and on its trips, and will fight tirelessly to that there be no attitudes that endanger the safety of those in attendance or that tarnish the reputation of our fans. As Valverde expressed at the end of the match: ‘For all of us, football is a party and this is not football. ‘We don’t like it,'” he added.
Furthermore, Athletic noted that “it is already taking the necessary measures to identify those responsible and guarantee that the corresponding sanctions are applied.” “The club is going to work to eradicate these behaviors, zero tolerance. This minority does not represent our fans,” the statement added.
“Athletic thanks the vast majority of its followers for their behavior in Rome,” while asking “apologies to AS Roma and its fans who have been affected by the attitude of these people.”
On the other hand, and in sports, Valverde celebrated a return to Europe with a good taste in his mouth due to Aitor Paredes’s equalizer in the 85th minute, after which it was the biggest incident with the flares. “I think it is a great result. Our idea was to come and win. In the first half we were not as loose as in the second, but we knew how to overcome the difficulties that existed,” he said.
“It tastes different when you’re winning and they tie than when you’re losing and you tie, especially at the end, then we’re happy,” he concluded, with a broad smile.