Atletico Madrid hit with stadium ban punishment after barrage of missiles aimed at Real's Thibaut Courtois in ugly derby scenes

Atletico fans turned on Courtois moments after Real Madrid took the lead through Eder Militao and started throwing plastic bottles, lighters and even a bag of trash aimed at the goalkeeper. The referee was forced to stop the game after three warnings failed to have the desired effect as the situation escalated, leading to a 15-minute suspension of play.

In response to the crowd trouble, the RFEF’s competition committee has levied a three-match partial stadium closure, targeting the "Fondo Sur" section of the Estadio Metropolitano, the area from which the missiles were launched. The club will also have to pay a fine of €45,000 (£37,000/$49,000) as part of the punishment. This disciplinary measure is seen as a strong statement by the federation, highlighting that such behaviour will not be tolerated in Spanish football.

In the wake of the incident, Atletico Madrid have swiftly responded by banning one fan for life. This individual was identified as one of the perpetrators who threw objects onto the pitch. The club has also announced that it is working closely with local police to identify and sanction other individuals involved in the incident. Moreover, Atletico have pledged to implement changes in stadium policies to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future and will be banning ans from wearing clothing that conceals their identity, such as balaclavas, which some fans in the stands were seen wearing during the derby.

The closure of the Fondo Sur stand will affect Atletico’s home fixtures against Leganes, Las Palmas, and Alaves. However, they still retain the right to appeal the RFEF’s decision. The Rojiblancos are back in action against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.