Source: REUTERS/Juan Medina
[Saba Sports News] Last weekend, La Liga featured a key match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. With over 70,000 spectators in attendance, the stadium was nearly full for this derby match. However, an unpleasant incident occurred during the game. In the second half, after Eder Militao scored, Thibaut Courtois, a former Atletico player, celebrated joyfully, which angered the home fans. They threw lighters at Courtois, causing a temporary stoppage in the match. After discussions between the referee and coaches Carlos Ancelotti and Diego Simeone, the players were sent to the locker room until the fans stopped throwing objects onto the field. It seems that Courtois faced such treatment mainly because of his past with Atletico; his exuberant celebration against them made their fans feel betrayed. On the other hand, Atletico fans are known for their high loyalty and passion for their team, and they cannot tolerate opposing players being provocative in their home ground.