Madrid derby halted after objects thrown on field

Madrid derby halted after objects thrown on field

The Madrid derby was suspended midway through the second half on Sunday, after Atlético fans behind one of the goals at the Metropolitano repeatedly threw objects onto the pitch.

Éder Militão had put visitors Real Madrid 1-0 ahead in the 64th minute of the LaLiga match, when Atlético fans in the “Fondo Sur” at the other end of the stadium began to throw objects — including plastic bottles — onto the pitch, near to Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The fans were warned to stop in messages on the stadium loudspeakers, and coach Diego Simeone and captain Koke both went across to speak to them, urging calm.

When more items were thrown, referee Mateo Busquets called the two teams off the pitch, and an announcement was made that the game would be suspended for 10 minutes.

After a delay of over 20 minutes the players returned to the pitch and the game resumed in the 69th minute.