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The Madrid Warzone! - Carnival to Carnivores
13th December 2007

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The picture above shows Aberdeen fans milling about outside a bar in great spirits ahead of the Athletico Madrid game last Thursday.

The picture below is the same bar and surroundings seconds after the first picture was taken.

I watched as the scenario unfolded below me with a view from the third tier of the Vicente Calderon stadium.

I witnessed 6 or 7 youths run down the adjacent alleyway and hurl flares into the sea of red fans.

What followed was sickening??utter chaos as people who had been hit or were close to the area ran about in shock. A motorbike on fire? Several Aberdeen fans gave chase up the alley and on returning to the area were met by Spanish police in full riot gear. Aberdeen fans could be seen to taunt the police, whether drink or fear induced or not, they were stupid to get involved, oblivious to the safety of other innocent fans.

The police when taunted, reacted badly and shamefully hit out at anyone within striking distance. Boos from the third tier, cups of water thrown from above?.what were these people thinking?next stop third tier and more riot police? Drink was in, wit was out and it could have been so much worse.

The atmosphere around the ground completely changed, tempers amongst the Dons fans were running high and normally placid fans were seen to taunt Athletico fans in the stands below them, watched closely by riot police only yards away. Athletico scored and those same fans hurled cups of water onto the Madrid fans below!!!
I saw Dons fans (bank managers and company directors) fuelled with drink,faces contorted with rage, acting like morons, again oblivious to what could have kicked off again if the riot police had decided enough was enough. Oblivious to the safety of children around them whose parents must have wondered what they had brought their kids into.

I was one of those who left the game at half time sickened by what was going on around me in the stadium and also fearful of what might still happen.

I and a lot of other Dons fans probably believe that football just isn?t worth what happened in Madrid and next time will probably watch the game from the relative safety of our front rooms at home.

Just think, if all the 6000 fans who made the trip to Madrid, spending an average of £500 a head, had decided to stay at home and instead donate that money to the club?s transfer kitty, the Club would now have £3 million to spend on players. Worth thinking about for next time?

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