Spanish police

[Scaring Europe to Death]

I was going to address it to Lisa Eaton as she's the SLO.

I don't think this is necessarily Real Madrid's fault - it seems like the Madrid police have carte blanche to do what the fuck they want and someone on this thread has stated that Real fans got battered by the police at Atletico's ground some years back, an incident so serious that it made the national news in Spain.

It was me who mentioned the Real Madrid fans being attacked, and I’ve since checked a few details.

It was 2005, in the Vicente Calderon, the day after City had lost to Oldham in the FA Cup. Real won 3-0, but midway through the second half, you could hear the distinctive sound of plastic seats being destroyed in the away section, (my ticket was amongst the Real fans, although technically, I was supporting Atletico)


A couple of riot police stepped-in, but they couldn’t get to the culprits, mainly because all the Real fans were huddled together, and generally being obstructive.

In England, this kind of behaviour is dealt with by CCTV, but suddenly, all hell broke loose, as dozens of police invaded the section, and basically battered everybody in their vision.
Loads of Real fans escaped into the Atletico section, and I recall kids and female fans of both clubs in tears.


I can’t really compare it with an English match because there was no trouble whatsoever between the two sets of supporters.

I left with ten minutes remaining, and ironically, considering the events of this week, it was being English that saved me from a Police battering, after committing the cardinal sin of walking down the wrong aisle. One of them approached, but mellowed after my "Soy Inglesa", and merely threw me down some different stairs.
A truly frightening experience, far worse than Leeds 78, Cardiff 94, or Millwall 98

I bought La Marca at the airport, and there was a huge piece describing the violence, in more or less the same way as I've just outlined

Nothing was done, and when I returned to Manchester, the media attention was more focussed on some racist chanting from the Atletico supporters.

 

[west didsblue]

Whilst the video doesn't show us in a good light
A) the TV crews were constantly encouraging City fans to sing up and be outrageous
B) that doesn't mean innocent fans deserve to get twatted by gung ho coppers

Also adds to the stereotype that it's the youngsters getting beered up tend to cause most of the issues

If the worst behaviour they can find is that menu glass being broken and some messing about with street sellers who didn't look particularly intimidated, that suggests we were pretty well behaved as a whole which was my experience. If there was any significant violence from City fans, the cameras would have been all over it. The only violence shown was from the police.

 

[jimbo101]

If the worst behaviour they can find is that menu glass being broken and some messing about with street sellers who didn't look particularly intimidated, that suggests we were pretty well behaved as a whole which was my experience. If there was any significant violence from City fans, the cameras would have been all over it. The only violence shown was from the police.

Exactly. They were there filming all afternoon and that's the worst they could find.
You film anyone all day and you can make them look like a saint or a saville. It's all in the edit.

 

[squirtyflower]

Wrong. The government approved the new security law in 2014, I think. Now taking photos or videos of a police, police car, ... Can be sanctioned with jail. So don't do that. You are foreigners, so you won't go to jail, but you will be beat up for sure.

Don't bother mate, he said a week or so ago, he's never wrong

 

[Chappie]

Let's also not forget our own club in this.
They are treating us like children, wrist bands are not needed,I.d checks we're not carried out
Our own stewards were a disgrace and are not fit for purpose in Europe .
A lady steward who must have been at least 50 was totally out of her comfort zone an older gentleman steward likewise.
Our head of security standing around doing nothing whist the supporter's are being manhandled .
Gm police were no where to be seen,which to be fair to her is not the norm.
I would love to see the report of our head of security into the the new ticketing policy for away matches in Europe and the policing in and outside of the city end.
Because from someone who has worked in his role for the best part of 30 years at a blue chip company, I would have been sacked for this shambles
Get a grip city and treat people with dignity and respect before you drive us all away

 

[Maccblue]

Some posts on here questioning if the travelling gmp could have helped diffuse any situations involving innocent fans being assaulted while they were on their 'spotting' duties.
Not a chance, shit bags on a jolly boys outing.
(granted, not as cowardly as the Spanish pigs though)

Travel sick pal ? Bit like some of our superstars the other night

 

[squirtyflower]

I have read all the above posts and wish to add my own experience of Wednesday night. I am 75 years of age disabled needing the use of a walking stick, and was at the game with my grandson.
We arrived at the stadium and were waiting for the stewards to start checking tickets and passport at this time there were around 30 or 40 fans patently waiting to be checked. Without any warning I was shoved by a policeman and he indicated I should move over to my left, I raised my stick only 4 or 5 inches and pointed to it ( I made no movements which could be construed as attempting to attack an office) and said I was not moving and made gestured that I was with my grandson. The officer pushed again and one or two city fans commented on this action, at this one of his colleges pulled him away. We were not late or pushing but just waiting as I have said in an orderly manner. Leaving the ground was a shambles for anyone with mobility problems. One staircase for all fans. I hung back and stood in the doorway leading back to the seats along with 4 other elderly gents, Here again the stewards tried to make us join the crush and it ended up with I presume a senior steward telling us to stay where we were. When we joined the fans leaving it was difficult to manage the stairs request to use the lift were turned down and the escalators had been turned off. About a third of the way down a member of RM own security took me to the back of the stairs and I went down a spiral similar to the Etihad. Reflecting on my experience I feel that I saw the best and the worst of policing and stewarding of away fans. I have emailed the club and perhaps if there are sufficient complaints UEFA will act. I do not accept that because it happened outside they cannot act. UEFA/RM set up the checks outside and I would argue that this then is covered by UEFA regulations. Why one exit? perhaps to speed up checks of the stadium regardless of any potential risk to the fans.

You should try and complain under the disabilities act, it's supposed to be European wide.

 

[squirtyflower]

Let's also not forget our own club in this.
They are treating us like children, wrist bands are not needed,I.d checks we're not carried out
Our own stewards were a disgrace and are not fit for purpose in Europe .
A lady steward who must have been at least 50 was totally out of her comfort zone an older gentleman steward likewise.
Our head of security standing around doing nothing whist the supporter's are being manhandled .
Gm police were no where to be seen,which to be fair to her is not the norm.
I would love to see the report of our head of security into the the new ticketing policy for away matches in Europe and the policing in and outside of the city end.
Because from someone who has worked in his role for the best part of 30 years at a blue chip company, I would have been sacked for this shambles
Get a grip city and treat people with dignity and respect before you drive us all away

Forget it
One too many apologists in this thread already for him. In fact one **** came over all mod like and told us we shouldn't be discussing him, I wonder why that was?
They've introduced a controlling mechanism for the fans, how about one for the cunts who abuse the paying public instead

 

[Chappie]

I would like to know the cost of all these new ideas,because it must have cost the best part of 50000 pounds to have set up the ticketing operation in Madrid , taking into account hotel and travel for all the staff, rental of the shopping complex and their security and stewards.
How do City justify these costs

 

[Chappie]

Squirty the apologists may not be so vocal,when the inevitable happens and someone dies

 

[Maccblue]

I would like to know the cost of all these new ideas,because it must have cost the best part of 50000 pounds to have set up the ticketing operation in Madrid , taking into account hotel and travel for all the staff, rental of the shopping complex and their security and stewards.
How do City justify these costs

That's what I said queuing for an hour on wed "who's footing the bill for the hotel?"

 

[squirtyflower]

Squirty the apologists may not be so vocal,when the inevitable happens and someone dies

Unfortunately they are too vocal for my liking.
They are happy to see us herded about like hooligans for having the gall to follow our football club. They defend the people who take away our freedoms and mock us when we fight back.
Yet they are unable to see that their tugging of forelocks leads to cowards and bullies taking it all a step too far

 

[squirtyflower]

For all those who attended both PSG and Madrid....

How come the wristbands were at the insistence of the country's police and yet they have the identical fabric and printing patterns? Unless, of course, both the French and Spanish authorities use the same contractor.
Or ask yourself why we weren't asked to show them at the ground if it's a UEFA directive, as some apologists have claimed.

Also, how come the Thompson lot were given the wristband to put on themselves, yet the independent fans are not trusted to do that. Perhaps those that booked their own flights and accommodation are too thick to cope with tightening a wristband?

 

[doots]

For all those who attended both PSG and Madrid....

How come the wristbands were at the insistence of the country's police and yet they have the identical fabric and printing patterns? Unless, of course, both the French and Spanish authorities use the same contractor.
Or ask yourself why we weren't asked to show them at the ground if it's a UEFA directive, as some apologists have claimed.

Also, how come the Thompson lot were given the wristband to put on themselves, yet the independent fans are not trusted to do that. Perhaps those that booked their own flights and accommodation are too thick to cope with tightening a wristband?

Careful flower,you could be banished to the conspiracy thread downstairs with accusations like that.

 

[squirtyflower]

Careful flower,you could be banished to the conspiracy thread downstairs with accusations like that.

Far too many thick fuckers to realise what's going on in front of their own eyes.

 

[doots]

Far too many thick fuckers to realise what's going on in front of their own eyes.

Indeed.

 

[dannybcity]

As I mentioned earlier in the thread I've had two bad experiences with the Spanish police, the second being reporting my wallet being pickpocketed in Barcelona.If anyone tried to do the same they'll know what an unpleasent experience it was. I was treated like a criminal from start to finish to the point where whilst the translator shouted at me another 'officer' squared up to me inches from my face. It was remarkable.

 

[jay_mcfc]

Spanish TV coverage. Don't speak Spanish but I'm guessing they aren't being particularly complimentary about us. It does show some police violence outside the stadium.

Spotted myself on the Metro platform though!

Jesus, that video is an absolute disgrace. It started off ok, then they said as the day went on and the English were drinking beer they started to get rowdy and caused one or two problems. The young guy who they were asking about the fans said there were thousands of City fans there and the vast majority were well spirited but the other guys just wanted to attack the City fans. They said the fans were a bunch of idiots who were already pissed at 4pm in the afternoon.

The real shocker though was the guy with grey hair and brown jacket said the fans were 'dickheads' live on TV. He apologised at first and then said it again. Absolute ****. They also used the fact that City fans were drunk to say of course the police had to react and tighten up the security 'for the benefit of the good City supporters'. This is propaganda at its finest. You have to remember that in real terms Spain is not that long out of dictatorship. A lot of their 'methods' are still very outdated.

In the first few minutes I thought the video was gonna be ok but by the end I was fuming. It's these kind of things that would have been watched by millions on Spanish tv and they create a very negative picture for the next time English fans come to Spain. Propaganda bollocks.

 

[bainy]

For all those who attended both PSG and Madrid....

How come the wristbands were at the insistence of the country's police and yet they have the identical fabric and printing patterns? Unless, of course, both the French and Spanish authorities use the same contractor.
Or ask yourself why we weren't asked to show them at the ground if it's a UEFA directive, as some apologists have claimed.

Also, how come the Thompson lot were given the wristband to put on themselves, yet the independent fans are not trusted to do that. Perhaps those that booked their own flights and accommodation are too thick to cope with tightening a wristband?

We should also ask why there were numerous 'corporate types' in the lower city end without wristbands!

 

[Lrrr]

We should also ask why there were numerous 'corporate types' in the lower city end without wristbands!

and why two Spanish "supporters" next to me at the pick up were allowed to pick up tickets with just ID cards yet I had to bring my passport?