Atletico Madrid to ban ultras group after death of supporter

Atletico Madrid say that the club will expel the "Frente
Atletico" from the Estadio Vicente Calderon, having received
evidence from police that members of the radical group were
involved in the death of Deportivo La Coruna ultra
Francisco Javier Romero Taboada last weekend.
The 43-year-old member of the "Riazor Blues" group died
as the result of injuries sustained during a pre-organised street
fight -- with the autopsy finding he had most likely been hit
with an iron bar.
Spain's political and football authorities have all condemned the
events, with sports minister Miguel Cardenal and La Liga
president Javier Tebas calling for an end to the links between
clubs and all ultras groups.
Eleven people have now died in separate incidents around La
Liga matches over the last 32 years -- including a Real
Sociedad fan who was attacked and killed outside the
Calderon in 1998.
Atletico figures had at first claimed that such episodes were a
broader societal problem, and not directly the responsibility of
the club.
Immediately after Sunday's game club president Antonio
Cerezo claimed the incident had "nothing to do with football,"
and chief executive Miguel Angel Gil argued that the "Frente
Atletico" ultras group should not collectively be punished for the
actions of some of its members.
Speaking on Tuesday, coach Diego Simeone said the ultimate
responsibility for ending violent clashes between "ultras" groups
lay with politicians, not those who work in football.
However, mounting public and media pressure has apparently
led Atletico to reconsider its stance, and a club statement
released on Tuesday afternoon said that after learning club
members had been involved in the incident it had decided to
end any association with the ultras group.
"Today, the club received the official police report on the
game, in which the facts are described along with the names of
people identified and/or detained by the police for having
directly or indirectly participated in the mass brawl," the
statement said.
"Among those identified are 15 people who say they are
Atletico Madrid fans, eight of which are club socios
[members]. All the members have been expelled without the
possibility of returning in future.
"Also, as the police have proven that the 'Frente Atletico' was
involved in the incidents in an organised and planned manner,
the club has taken the decision to expel this group, as of from
today, and to end all relations with it. The club will do
everything it can to stop the exhibition of any banners or other
distinctive elements of this group inside the Estadio Vicente
Calderon."
Meanwhile, Deportivo have also released a statement saying
that it wants a full house at next Saturday's La Liga fixture at
home to Malaga to participate in a mass protest against
violence in football.
"We want to promote from Deportivo that next Saturday at
Riazor becomes a mass protest with a sporting spirit," the
statement said. "To do that, all citizens who want to show
their rejection of violence in football can show that by acquiring
tickets at the symbolic price of one euro to fill the stadium and
show everyone the true disposition of this unique fanbase. It
will also be a gesture to ask for respect for the magnificent fans
of Deportivo."
Depor appear to not be planning to take long-term measures
against the "Riazor Blues," however the area of the ground
where this group usually congregate will be closed for two
games.
"The board of Real Club Deportivo de La Coruna, having
analysed all the information available regarding the events of
last Sunday in Madrid, has decided on a series of measures to
lead a movement in favour of football 100 percent free of
verbal and physical violence," their statement said.
"The first measure is the closure, provisional and symbolic, of
the 'Maraton Inferior' area of the ground for the next two
games at Riazor - tomorrow [Copa del Rey last 32 first leg,
also against Malaga] and on Saturday. We know this will
affect many fans who have not