Diego Simeone blames Courtois after Atlético Madrid fans disrupt derby for 20 minutes

This Sunday's match between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid saw all the ingredients of tension, fierce rivalry, and a charged atmosphere in and out of the pitches. What should have been enshrined in history as a fair duel, though, was overshadowed by the sad occasion - objects thrown on the pitch by the organized fan group called Frente Atlético, from the Atlético de Madrid team. The temptation of 1-1 became almost secondary and a deepened analysis of the excesses by a part of its fans and the role of provocations in modern soccer.

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Nothing new in sport, but it draws attention to a problem repeating in all stadiums around the world. But, is everything the fault of the fans? Or is there a thin line separating player provocations and over-sensitive reactions from the tribunes? After his press conference, it was Atlético's coach Diego Simeone who brought up the question, spreading the blame with Real Madrid's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. To Simeone, "the provocations coming from Courtois" have unleashed the fans' reaction. For his part, he made clear that this did not justify their behavior.

The tense relationship

To understand the size of the incident, one has to go back in history between Thibaut Courtois and Atlético Madrid's fans. Courtois played for Atlético from 2011 until 2014, a period in which he won an important title with the team, such as the Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and La Liga. During that period, he was considered a real idol for the Atlético supporters. But that love story transformed into a drama of resentment when the goalkeeping star left Chelsea to join Real Madrid in 2018.

Atlético Madrid vs. Real Madrid remains one of the largest derbies in European soccer. For most fans, there is nothing more unforgivable than to see a former player, especially an idol, put on the shirt of their greatest enemy. Since his transfer to Real Madrid, Courtois was treated by Atlético ultras as a traitor. Throughout the years, this resentment grew into provocations and even hostile acts, as we have seen during last Sunday's match.

If the relationship between Courtois and Atlético fans has always lived on the edge of chaos, things had reached a critical point in this game. Every time he was touched the ball, the Belgian was booed, and after a moment in which he apparently provoked the crowd, things started to get out of hand, with fans throwing things onto the field. That 20-minute interruption showed the type of rivalry between teams sometimes goes beyond what is acceptable.

The provocation controversy

The incident had provocative comments by Diego Simeone as well. He had said though the fans' behavior could not be justified, Courtois wasn't an innocent victim too. "They said the opposing goalkeeper provoked them. It doesn't justify the action, but maybe those who provoke should also be punished," said the Argentine coach.

This, however, does not alleviate the violent-acting fans of their responsibilities. This may also be a justification for La Liga to punish Atlético Madrid, since these incidents are in continuous scrutiny by sports authorities.