Spanish LaLiga football club Real Madrid has reportedly cancelled 357 season tickets after Barcelona fans were clearly visible in the home section at the Santiago Bernabeu during Sunday’s game between the two rivals.
Real Madrid launched an investigation and subsequently “disallowed use of season tickets from some [fans]”. The club suggested that holders had sold tickets on in what it described as an “illegal practice”.
The ‘El Clasico’ match ended in dramatic fashion, with Lionel Messi scoring a late winner to seal a 3-2 victory over the home team. During his celebration, in which he brandished his shirt to the opposition crowds, Barcelona fans could be clearly seen dotted throughout the sea of Madrid support.
The Sport news website reported that: “Madrid have taken action against season ticket holders who clearly sold their tickets for the game.”
BBC reporter Jamie Whitehead tweeted: “Brilliant goal, but how can Barça fans openly celebrate in Madrid sections like that? Is it different in Spain?”
As it now stands, Barcelona are on level points with Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, although the Catalonian side has played one more game.
The Denver Broncos NFL American football franchise also cancelled hundreds of season tickets in early March after an audit found that many holders were not attending games themselves. It moved to redistribute its season tickets to “loyal” fans on a waiting list.
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