In Donostia, what happened in Bilbao happened again

Radio programs, television and even the written press, especially from outside the Basque Country, relegated Real’s 3-1 victory over Benfica at Anoeta and Imanol’s team’s qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League two days early. References to what happened on the lawn coincided with the excellent show offered by the Txuri Urdin group. Days before, in the same scenario, he was at a high level and, however, a last Barça goal, with the initial consultation with VAR, gave Xavi’s team that is now in doubt three points.

The news focus of the final Champions League match in the capital of San Sebastian was mainly focused on the incidents that took place hours before the start of the match between the violent Benfica and Real team. Nothing new hasn’t happened in these parts with Athletic competing fairly regularly in various continental tournaments, something that, by the way, hasn’t happened for a few years now. The citizens of Bilbao, especially those near San Mamés, witnessed episodes very similar to those experienced a few days ago in Donostia.

That’s how things are

Modern football is like this. Ultras, radicals and other violent people take advantage of the celebration of this kind of meeting to play their own game. A fight that mostly consisted of running at each other, meeting at a certain moment to exchange blows with the first thing they could get their hands on, including the legs, letting go of anyone unfortunate enough to fall and run away. The other day, it’s true, Anoeta also witnessed the second phase in the form of flares being launched inside the stadium itself.

It has nothing to do with sport, but it is becoming more common locally and internationally. It’s embarrassing. The worst is that history repeats itself. A few years ago I played in Bilbao, now in Donostia.