Espanyol home stadium could be shut for one game after fans’ behaviour during Catalan derby

The RCDE Stadium saw fans turn up in large numbers last night, even hitting the stadium’s highest attendance figure of the season, and Joan Garcia’s return had a big part to play in the same.

After all, the fans planned to show their collective disappointment with the former Espanyol goalkeeper and jeered at him with loud boos throughout the game.

The situation, however, got out of hand towards the end when bottles were flung on the field as a result of the fans’ frustration – a shocking development considering how it happened despite nets being placed behind the goalposts in anticipation of the same.

Heavy consequences

As relayed by Mundo Deportivo in a recent update, the referees took a clear note of the behaviour of fans on the night and even mentioned it in their report, and could thus shut the venue for a game.

Espanyol’s home stadium could be shut for one game. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“In the 90th minute several half-full and closed bottles were thrown from the stand located in the right corner, coming out of the locker room tunnel,” the report clearly reads.

“Fans of the local team were located, identified with the shirts and scarves that they wore. These bottles did not impact any player or cause any damage, and it had to be announced by public address so that this type of behavior would cease, without repeating itself again,” the report added.

Given the development, the Discipline Committee has a massive decision to make about the sanctions to be levied on the venue for the unruly behaviour. It is not ruled out that the venue could be closed for one game as a result of the same.

The Espanyol home stadium has been under warning of closure since September 26 2024 when a sup flung from the stands after a game against Villarreal struck the referee on duty. The repetition of the action is what places it at risk of closure.

Concurrently, however, there is also a chance it is resolved through a minor fine given that no damage occurred as a result of objects being thrown. If taken in that sense, a fine of €600 may suffice.

Source: Sports Yahoo