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Football club security chiefs fired over riot

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Football club security chiefs fired over riot
A picture taken on November 30th shows a tribute to a football fan who died following clashes near Atletico Madrid's Vicente Calderon stadium. Photo: Cristina Quicler/AFP

Spain's government has ordered the sacking of the security heads of football clubs Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña over a deadly riot that left a fan dead.

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Junior security minister Francisco Martínez announced the move on Tuesday to a parliamentary commission investigating the brawl in which rioters rampaged with metal bars and knives hours before the two sides' November 30 match.

"I have decided to order the dismissal of both clubs' security coordinators as a measure of joint responsibility in the person's death and the violent acts in the streets of Madrid," Martinez said.

He said police were still investigating how members of Riazor Blues, a radical fan group linked to Deportivo, got hold of 110 tickets to the match without the authorities' knowledge.

The man who died after being beaten and pushed into the river in the fighting was identified as a 43-year-old member of the Riazor Blues.

Martinez said his ministry would also propose new protocol to task police with monitoring verbal abuse in the football stands.

"All forms of physical and verbal violence must be eliminated from sport," he said.

Spain's Professional Football League meanwhile announced it was bringing formal complaints against five clubs including Real Madrid and Barcelona for alleged verbal abuse by fans.

The complaints target alleged abuse last weekend against players including Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi.

Spain's Football Federation and the government-controlled Higher Sports Council have said tougher sanctions for clubs over violent behaviour by supporters will come into force on December 15th.

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