Club boss rages and has questions
Po-“stabbing” scandal outrages Spanish football
There is a scandal at a Spanish league match: As Sevilla professional Lucas Ocampos steps up to throw in, a fan harasses him in an unusual way. There is a great outcry, and the young spectator could be severely punished.
Scandal in the Primera División: During Sevilla FC's 2-1 away win at Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, a fan of the home team put an outstretched finger on the buttocks of visiting player Lucas Ocampos as the winger was about to take a throw-in on the sideline. The unusual incident was clearly visible in the live broadcast on Spanish television late on Monday evening.
And it caused great outrage. “Nothing like this has ever been seen before!” was the headline in the specialist magazine “Marca”. The newspaper “Sport” spoke of a “scandal”, the radio station Cope saw a “surreal scene”. Meanwhile, Sevilla FC condemned the “obscene and unacceptable gesture” and demanded action from LaLiga.
After the game, Ocampos said on DAZN: “I hope La Liga takes this as seriously as racism and things like that. I don't think all the people at Rayo are like that, because they have always treated us with respect, but there is always one fool.” There must now be consequences. The incident was captured on camera. “We can all imagine what would happen if something like that were to happen in women's football,” said Ocampos.
On the pitch, the 29-year-old Argentinian briefly turned around after the harassment to confront the young fan. But he remained calm and only called the referee. He “held back” and did not react more violently because he has two daughters. “I hope that something like this never happens to them,” he said.
Some fans laughed about the incident, and Rayo players called on the supporters to behave. Rayo boss Raúl Martín Presa subsequently said on Spanish TV that the club condemned the harassment and would take action. “We will identify the fan, his season ticket will be confiscated, he will be banned from the stadium and fined. But the club is not to blame and should not be punished.”
