Atletico Fans Throw Lighter At Thibaut Courtois After Real Take Lead; Interrupted Madrid Derby Ends In Draw

Thibaut Courtois was the first one to alert the referee that there were objects being thrown on the field including lighters, leading to the Madrid Derby being halted.

La Liga's Madrid Derby scheduled between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid on Sunday (September 29) was interrupted after Atletico fans threw objects on the field. The incident happened around the 70th minute of the Spanish league fixture and the referee had to stop the match and send the players to the locker rooms. Play could only resume after more than 15 minutes.

Real Madrid had scored the opening goal of the match in the 64th minute to take a 1-0 lead at the Metropolitano before the home fans started throwing objects on the field to interrupt the match. It was Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois who was the first one to alert the referee that there were objects being thrown on the field including lighters.

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Atletico defender Jose Maria Gimenez and midfielder Koke Resurrection even tried to pacify the fan and went to talk to them in the section right behind Courtois’ goal. Notably, this is exactly the place in the stadium where the hardcore Atletico supporters sit and enjoy the match from. Apart from the effort of players, Atletico coach Diego Simeone also asked the fans to behave multiple times.

A report carried by news agency AP claimed that a message on the stadium's loudspeaker said that the match was interruped for 15 minutes. The messagae added that the match would be suspended if the problem continued. The interruption from the fans came a day after the La Liga said that it would ask police to act against the promoters of a social media campaign which said that the league was aimed at promoting racist acts against Vinicius Junior at the derby.

Atletico Madrid With A Stoppage Time Equaliser

When the play did resume after the break, the hosts manages to find a stoppage time equaliser with Ángel Correa finding the back of the net to help Atletico Madrid take a point from the match. Eventually, the match ended in a 1-1 draw.

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Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid continue to sit at the second and the third places on the Spanish League table with 18 and 16 points respectively from 8 matches.