November 25th 2024.
There has been widespread condemnation and outcry in Spain after a young Espanyol fan was reportedly forced to remove his beloved club's jersey before attending their La Liga match against Girona this past weekend. Girona ultimately secured a 4-1 victory over Espanyol, marking their third consecutive league win and propelling them to seventh place in the Spanish top flight.
However, the excitement of the match was overshadowed by a viral video that surfaced before kick-off, showing a young supporter being told to take off his Espanyol jersey by security personnel. The boy's father can be heard expressing his frustration in the footage, stating that his five-year-old son was not allowed to enter the stadium wearing his team's iconic blue and white stripes. This was apparently due to concerns about potential violence among fans at Girona's Estadi Montilivi.
In the video, the father can be heard saying, "The baby had to take off his Espanyol shirt because they said he couldn't go in with it. A five-year-old child... terribly dangerous." He goes on to express his anger at the situation, saying, "In my f***ing life, would you sign for Girona? Never." The clip also captures a moment where the security guard apologizes and explains that he had no choice but to enforce the rule.
Eventually, the family was allowed into the stadium, with the young boy seen in the video wearing a black sweatshirt and blue coat instead of his beloved Espanyol jersey. According to reports, local police had deemed the match a "high risk" event, giving security personnel the authority to prevent individuals from wearing certain clothing in certain areas of the stadium for safety reasons.
LaSexta, a Spanish TV channel, reported that the five-year-old was not the only fan who was forced to conceal their team's colors. Another Espanyol supporter was reportedly told that he could not bring his scarf into the stadium, even if he tried to hide it. The scarf was apparently deemed a safety hazard and was to be discarded instead.
It's unfortunate that this incident occurred and that the young fan was unable to proudly display his team's colors at the match. While safety is certainly a top priority, it's also important to consider the impact on fans and their passion for their team. Let's hope that in the future, measures can be taken to ensure the safety of all while still allowing supporters to show their unwavering support for their beloved clubs.
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