LaLiga reports 14 matches for offensive chanting in Spain's top two divisions

LaLiga has submitted a block of 14 reports this week, one per match, to the Spanish Football Federation and the Anti-Violence Commission. All of them relate to games played across matchdays 3 and 4 of the first and second divisions. The documents detail chants that incite violence or include insulting and intolerant language, located in very specific areas of the different stadiums.

The reported material includes chants against Spain, the national team, Pedro Sánchez, Catalonia and several clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla. The professional football body continues its weekly practice of forwarding to the competent authorities any verbal behaviour that breaches the regulations against violence in sport.

Key points from LaLiga's 14 reports for offensive chanting

• Fourteen matches from matchdays 3 and 4 in Spain's top two divisions have been reported.
• The chants were sung in a coordinated manner from specific stands, often linked to organised supporter groups.
• The targets included Spain, Pedro Sánchez, Catalonia, the national team and several clubs and players.
• LaLiga sends the reports to the Spanish Football Federation and the Anti-Violence Commission for action.
• Some incidents were repeated during the same match and lasted between 4 and 60 seconds.

Chants against Spain and the national team in San Sebastián, Bilbao and Vitoria

Three stadiums account for the reports concerning expressions against Spain and the national team. At the Reale Arena, before kick-off in Real Sociedad vs Espanyol and again in the 12th minute, home fans in the Fondo Sur Bajo, known as the Grada Aitor Zabaleta, chanted «Puta España, puta Selección» for around ten seconds.

At San Mamés, Athletic Club vs Atlético de Madrid produced a similar episode in the 21st minute. From sectors 105 to 110 of the Tribuna Norte Baja, next to the Grada Popular de Animación and two banners reading «Íñigo Cabacas» and «Herri Harmaila», the same chant was sung for about six seconds. In the 85th and 87th minutes, from the same spot, the chant «Ole ole ole, puta Simeone» followed.

The third case was recorded at Mendizorroza. In the first minute of Alavés vs Osasuna, home fans in the Grada Fondo Polideportivo chanted «Puta España y puta Selección» for around ten seconds. In the 71st minute, from the same area, «Que sí joder que puta Santander» was heard.

Chants against Pedro Sánchez in Andorra, Málaga and Elche

The name of Spain's prime minister also appears in three of the reports. In Andorra vs Eibar, in the 34th minute, home fans in the Gol Norte chanted «Pedro Sánchez, hijo de puta» for around five seconds.

At La Rosaleda, Málaga vs Levante produced the same chant in the 15th minute, this time lasting ten seconds and coming from sectors 112, 114, 116, 220, 222, 224, 226, 228 and 230 of the Fondo Sur. The same match also saw an «Eh cabrón» in the 36th minute.

The third episode took place at the Martínez Valero. Ten seconds before kick-off in Elche vs Real Sociedad, home fans in the Fondo Sur Descubierto repeated the same expression against Pedro Sánchez for about six seconds. In the 30th minute, from the same area, an «eh, cabrón» was heard as the visiting goalkeeper took a goal kick.

Catalonia, Barcelona and the major clubs targeted from the stands

Valencia vs Barcelona is among the matches with the most reported material. In the 23rd minute and 20 seconds, home fans in the Gol Sur, level with the Grada Mario Alberto Kempes, chanted «Puta Barça, puta Catalunya» for around ten seconds, followed by «Olelé, olalá, ser del Barça es ser un subnormal». In the 55th minute, from the same spot, «Ferran, cabrón, saluda a la afición» was heard.

Real Betis vs Real Madrid left two notable moments. In the 53rd and 95th minutes, from the central sectors of the Gol Sur Tribuna Baja, the chant «¡Que sí, que sí, que puta Real Madrid, que puta Real Madrid...!» was sung for around ten seconds. More striking was the 68th minute, when for a full minute the crowd sang «¡Al fin van a decir la verdad de esos putos bastardos, que la hinchada más triste de todas es la del Sánchez Pizjuán!».

Espanyol vs Sevilla also accumulated several episodes. A minute before kick-off, from the Gol Cornellà and with the involvement of the Grada Canito, fans chanted «Queremos la cabeza de Joan» for around 25 seconds, in reference to the Barcelona goalkeeper. In the 10th, 20th and 99th minutes, a «Puta Sevilla» chant of about ten seconds was repeated. In the 13th minute, «Písalo, písalo» was also heard. On the away side, in the 12th and 50th minutes, Sevilla fans located in the corner between the Tribuna and the Gol Prat sang the same expression while a home player was down on the pitch.

Chants against players, referees and rival fans in the remaining reports

Racing vs Elche produced a coordinated chant from La Gradona de los Malditos. For ten seconds, the crowd sang «Puta Elche, puta Elche». In Sevilla vs Atlético de Madrid, 29 minutes before kick-off, away fans in the Grada Gol Sur con Fondo chanted «Puta Sevilla, Puta Sevilla». Later, in the 36th and 83rd minutes, home fans in the Gol Norte sang «Atleti, Atlético de Madrid,...mierda», and in the 43rd and 83rd minutes «Písalo, písalo» and «Puta Madrid, puta capital» were added.

Cádiz vs Valladolid focused on visiting player Iván Alejo. In the 7th, 62nd and 64th minutes, home fans in the Fondo Sur, members of the Brigadas Amarillas, chanted «Alejo, hijo de puta, Brigadas te saluda» for ten seconds. In the 92nd minute, an «Eh, cabrón» was aimed at the visiting goalkeeper after a goal kick.

Getafe vs Celta Vigo is among the cases with the most material. In the 2nd minute, from the Fondo Sur Bajo, the chant «¡Oe, oa, todos los días nos pita un subnormal!» was heard for around fifteen seconds. In the 10th minute, a ten-second «¡Puta Celta de Vigo!» followed, and in the 80th, «¡Puta Vigo, puta Balaídos!». Also in the 80th, «¡Árbitro valiente, valiente hijo de puta!» was sung for ten seconds. In the 85th, a twenty-second «¡Asesino, asesino!» and a ten-second «¡Hijo de puta, hijo de puta!», apparently aimed at a visiting player, were repeated in the 95th.

Finally, Málaga vs Deportivo left an «¡Eh, cabrón!» of around four seconds from the Fondo Sur in the 65th, 91st and 92nd minutes, coinciding with the visiting goalkeeper's goal kicks. After the final whistle, home fans in different sectors of the stadium sang «¡Árbitro, valiente, valiente hijo de puta!» for around twenty seconds.

What happens after LaLiga files its reports

Every week, LaLiga collects the verbal incidents detected by its staff in stadiums and forwards them to the Spanish Football Federation and the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport. These bodies decide whether to open proceedings and what sanctions apply to clubs or to those responsible for the chants.

Identifying the individuals involved is one of the usual ways to apply sanctions on a personal basis. Clubs, for their part, can face financial penalties or the partial or total closure of a stand if they are held responsible for failing to prevent such behaviour. The current regulations also provide for banning orders for those who take part in this kind of expression.