Atletico President apologizes for anti-Antonio Puerta chanting - La Liga news
Sevilla faced Atletico Madrid at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vicente-c36001 Calderon last weekend as both sides had to stay content with a point apiece. However, the game left a sour taste in mouths of many as the crowd chanted against the dead Sevilla player, Antonio Puerta.
The Atletico Madrid board has been left embarrassed in the wake of the inhumane gesture made by the home crowd.
Puerta had died of a cardiac arrest during a league fixture against Getafe in August 2007. It was a tragic event that stunned the footballing world, as Puerta was just 22 years of age and had his entire career ahead of him – and a bright one too.
The Atletico Madrid board has expressed their dismay and regret at the incident. In an official statement issued by the Madrid club, they apologized for this most unfortunate incident.
"Atletico Madrid deeply regret the chants made against the figure of Antonio Puerta during last Sunday's game at the Vicente Calderon stadium. Our club express their deep disgust at such chants and apologise to the family of the late player, to Sevilla and
to football in general.”
Along with this, club president Enrique Cerenzo also made a personal apology. While talking to Marca TV, he said:
“I apologise to everyone connected with Sevilla and to the family of Antonio Puerta. They must know that the people who sang this are a minority who have nothing to do with football or sport. It's sad and painful to hear these songs at a football ground
about a person who has been a great sportsman and who is no longer with us."
The gesture goes out as a message to all the football fans in the world as such issues have been on the rise lately. Misconduct by the fans and offensive chanting has always scarred the beauty of the game. It is in the interest of football fans and players
all over the world that such incidents must be tackled with.
Unfortunately, La Liga is not the only European League that has such issues when it comes to crowds breaking social norms.
English Premier League has also been home to such incidents, rather sadly. Tottenham Hotspur striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Togo-c3022 team bus attack incident
that took place in January 2010.
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