FOOTBALL hooligans, or ‘ultras’, are being targeted by the Spanish government following the death of a Deportivo La Coruna fan in Madrid yesterday.
Francisco Javier Romero Taboada, 43, was pulled out of the Manzanares river after Deportivo ultras clashed with fans from Madrid-based clubs Atletico Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Alcorcon.
The police announced that trouble flared up in what appeared to be ‘an organised street battle’.
Sport minister, Miguel Cardenal, now wants to tackle the ‘ultra-culture’ which has developed within Spanish football.
He said: “It has been proposed to us that we draw up a list of ultras groups to expel them from stadiums and set a time frame to carry it out.
“We want to eliminate these radical elements from the places where football is played and the surroundings. They have no place either inside or outside stadiums.”
Real Madrid and Barcelona have already barred ultras from attending games in recent years.
Police named the groups involved in Sunday’s fighting as the Riazor Blues (Deportivo), Frente Atletico (Atletico Madrid), Bukaneros (Rayo) and Alkor Hooligans (Alcorcon).
Ban football, booze and latenight parties! That would do the job, and close down Spain too (apart from the shops). Kisses everyone, and keep off the garlic! Stick to turkey twizzlers and bacon sandwiches!