Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone says fans who hurled objects onto the pitch, causing the Spanish Football League match against Real Madrid to be suspended for more than 20 minutes, should be punished in the same way as the players who did in his opinion, encouraged such actions.

The city derby was suspended on Sunday after Atletico fans threw objects onto the pitch, prompting the referee to halt the game and send the players to the dressing rooms around the 70th minute at the Metropolitano Stadium.

While the Real players were celebrating Eder Militao’s opening goal in the 64th minute, the Atlético ultras Fondo Sur, who is in the southern lower stand, threw objects towards the visiting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who alerted the referee, which led to the decision led to the game being interrupted.

After the delay, Angel Correa equalized clearly in stoppage time and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

“In my opinion, people who committed incidents should be punished by the club. We don’t need these people. We need people to accompany and support us. They are damaging the club, but be careful: that does not justify the creation of situations that we create as protagonists,” Simeone told DAZN Sport.

Atletico defender Jose Maria Gimenez and midfielder Koke Resurreccion spoke to fans in the area behind Courtois’ goal.

Simeone also repeatedly asked the fans to behave.

“We all have to help,” he said.

“The people who threw those lighters, that’s not right. But maybe it doesn’t help if we as protagonists undermine people, attack people, provoke people and then get angry.

“People have no other option, do it in a bad way, which is not right, but we also have to try to stay calm, understand the situations, that you can celebrate a goal by celebrating it, but not by celebrating it,” by staring at the stands, by storming into the stands, by making gestures… because then people get angry.

“Of course this is not justified, but it is also not justified in advance, otherwise we would always be victims. The one who throws the lighter should be punished, and the one who provokes should also be punished. That way there’s no more laughter and things like that, because you’re not sanctioned you’re allowed to do things.”

An announcement was made over the stadium’s loudspeaker that the game was suspended for 15 minutes and that it would be suspended if the problem persisted.

Atletico Madrid issued an official statement in the early hours of Monday morning saying they had already identified one of the fans who hurled objects onto the pitch and were working with police to identify other fans against whom disciplinary action will be taken.

“Atletico de Madrid would like to express its opposition to the throwing of objects from a part of the South Stand in the 68th minute of the game against Real Madrid. The club’s security department has been working with police to locate those involved, one of whom has already been identified,” the club said in a statement.

“The association will apply the internal regulation intended for very serious cases to the people involved in this incident. These attitudes have no place in football and damage the image of a stadium that enjoyed a spectacular atmosphere with more than 70,000 spectators in the stands, the vast majority of whom demonstrated exemplary behavior.”

Atlético de Madrid would like to express its opposition to the throwing of objects from a part of the South Stand in the 68th minute of the game against Real Madrid. The club’s security department has been working with police to locate those involved, including… pic.twitter.com/bqFaRfoWhe

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) September 29, 2024

The disruption came a day after the Spanish league said it would ask police to take action against the organizers of a social media campaign that the league said was aimed at promoting racist acts against Vinicius Junior at the derby.

The social media campaign was based on a hashtag that urged Atletico fans to wear face masks, apparently to make it harder for authorities to identify people engaging in racist chants or insults.

Social media videos showed Atletico fans chanting “Vinicius is different” before the game.