The Real Jaén 'ultras' (hooligans) had made their intentions plain on social media what would be their 'mission' in Motril - a punch up with Motril fans.
The match (classified as high risk) between CF Motril and Real Jaén took place in the municipal stadium, Escribano Castilla.
Before the match began, a group of hooligans called North Fans attacked two local fans, father and son, aged 57 and 33. They continued to kick and punch the father as he lay unconsious on the ground. The son also came away from it with cracked ribs.
The police knew that the Jaén hooligans would be making their presence felt in Motril around midday – a score of the Real Jaén fans had started scouring the streets, shouting, “Motrileños, hijos de puta!” and “Esto es una puta aldea!” Then they made for a couple of bars on Calle Ancha, from which, according to several sources, they left without paying.
From there, this large group, all in their 20s, made their way up to the municipal football stadium. It was outside the stadium that this attack took place. Nobody intervened but many people living in the area took videos, which have helped to identify the culprits.
The victims made their own way to Hospital Santa Ana, where the doctors were especially worried about the father who had recently suffered an ictus. Fortunately, he was allowed to go home around midnight.
The police managed to identify some of the aggressors as they tried to enter the stadium and even threw out some who had already gained entrance. Apart from the hooligans involved and less than flattering chanting from the stands from both groups of fans, the match went without further incident.
The rivallry between both teams (or better said their fan clubs) goes back to last year when bottles were thrown at both the Motril fans and the their team’s players on the pitch every time they scored a goal.
Editorial comment: if a match is classified as high risk, then it should be cancelled – full stop. If a football club can’t control their own fans, tough.
(News: Motril, Costa Tropical Granada, Andalucia)