Athletic Club issue apology after fans caught throwing flares at Roma supporters

An unpleasant episode took place during last night’s Europa League affair between Roma and Athletic Club.

In fact, some Spanish fans, during the match, allegedly lit flares and then threw them at the stands of the home fans, causing confusion inside the stadium.

The Basque club, once they learned of the episode, strongly condemned it with a statement on their official website.

“Athletic Club wants to show zero tolerance in situations such as the one that occurred at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Athletic Club wants to express its strongest condemnation of the unacceptable acts committed by a minority of people who went to the Europa League match against AS Roma and who were in the away stands.

During the match, this small group lit flares and threw some into the home stands, contravening safety regulations and tarnishing the image of our fans, known for their exemplary behavior and unconditional support for the team in all circumstances.

These attitudes do not represent the historic values ​​of Athletic Club, such as respect, sportsmanship and coexistence.

The club always works to promote a positive atmosphere at sporting events, both in San Mamés and on its travels, and will fight tirelessly to ensure that there are no attitudes that endanger the safety of participants or tarnish the reputation of our fans.

As Valverde said after the match: “For all of us, football is a celebration. And this is not football, we don’t like it.

Athletic Club, in collaboration with the competent authorities, is already taking the necessary measures to identify those responsible and ensure that the corresponding sanctions are applied.

The Club will work to eradicate this behavior, zero tolerance. This minority does not represent our fans.

Captain Oscar de Marcos, along with Iñaki Williams, let this minority of fans know after the match that their behavior “is unacceptable”.

Athletic thanks the vast majority of its fans for their behavior in Rome, they continue to demonstrate their commitment to the Club and the values ​​that make us unique and they demonstrated it once again in a trip of 3,000 people to the Italian capital without any incident and proudly displaying our colors and our identity.

Athletic Club would like to apologize to AS Roma and its fans who were affected by the behavior of these people.”