Pablo Iglesias has spoken out in the midst of the controversy of ultra groups in the world of football to defend those of the Rayo Vallecano, who are extreme left. The former leader of Podemos has denounced that “fascism is advancing” and has described it as “enormously worrying” that it is doing so on the football fields, to later praise the far-left ultra group of the franjirrojos: “There are sports fans that work in their neighborhood, who do social work… I am talking about Bukaneros, who are often criminalized and who, however, have enormous prestige».
Iglesias has not hesitated to attack the fans of the Atlético de Madrid, after the embarrassing incidents that occurred at the Metropolitano. He referred to the members of the Atlético Front, without naming them, but he wanted to differentiate between the ultras of the rojiblanco team and those of Rayo Vallecano, who are extreme left.
The former first vice president of the Government has indicated that “Sports fans should not be criminalized”since “some values ​​or others can always be defended.” In this aspect, he wanted to emphasize that what happens with the ultra fans of Rayo Vallecano is different from what happens with the Atlético Front or other radical groups that he relates to the “advance” of fascism.
“There are sports fans who work in their neighborhood, who do social work…” he began by saying, referring to the far-left ultras of Rayo. Pablo Iglesias has not hesitated to show his sympathy for them, praising everything they do and praising them: “I am talking about Bukaneros, who are often criminalized and who, however, have enormous prestige among the fans of Vallecas.”
Pablo Iglesias praises the ultras
Iglesias’ words come after what happened at the Metropolitano. The violence of the Atlético de Madrid ultras in the derby has received total condemnation, putting ultra groups in football back in the spotlight. However, the former leader of Podemos wanted to save the Bukaneros del Rayo, whose ideas are similar to his, as they are extreme left radicals.
The ultras of Atlético de Madrid They threw lighters and other objects at Thibaut Courtois, in addition to singing different chants during the meeting that were reported to Anti-Violence. The players of the red and white team, as well as Simeonethey went to the back of the ultras to talk to hooded people, giving an embarrassing image for Spanish football and even more so in a match as international as a Madrid derby.
Simeone spoke after the match, as well as before the game against Benfica. He once again reaffirmed his words to Courtois about what happened in the altercation with the red-and-white ultras, but he also said that the club could set an example about what happened: “I gave an opinion that they distorted and took where they wanted. “I reject violence, I reject aggressors and I believe that the club has a great opportunity to show outwards what should be done.”
