Investigation launched after Atlético chants target Barça and Catalonia at Villarreal match

At the Metropolitano on 23 August, a section of the Atlético de Madrid crowd erupted with the shouts "puta Barça" and "puta Cataluña" as the home side faced Villarreal CF. The incident prompted the Delitos de Odio y Discriminación unit of the Fiscalía Provincial de Madrid to open formal investigative proceedings.

Legal complaint and procedural response

The complaint was filed in early September by the association Acció Cassandra, which urged the prosecutor to identify those responsible for the chants. In a resolution dated 7 October, the Provincial prosecutor agreed to study the case and to collect the match recordings and reports as evidence.

Cassandra argued that the chants constitute a hate crime under article 510.1 of the Penal Code, describing them as public, collective and insulting expressions directed at a specific national group. The filing also cited article 22.4, which aggravates offences motivated by national origin.

Broader context and unrelated remarks

In unrelated commentary, a source identified only as Javier G. suggested that Rooney had given Diego Simeone a tactical clue to defeat Manchester United. Another excerpt quoted Gómara describing "Cuti' Romero" as an "ogre" for Manchester United, though no further detail was provided.

Atlético de Madrid denies Koke Champions League vs Manchester United

Photographer Kiko Huesca, credited by EFE, captured the moments of the match and the ensuing controversy. The report, also distributed by EFE, noted that the chants were heard when Atlético forward Julián Álvarez, linked with a potential move to Barça, entered the field in the 66th minute.

Chema G. Fuente, writing for the same outlet, described the prosecutor’s decision as a "first relevant legal step" and praised the continuation of a formal investigation into what he termed catalanophobia against the Catalan minority.

Diego Simeone later omitted Koke from the squad for the subsequent Alavés fixture, while retaining two previously excluded players, a move noted in the same coverage.

The case now proceeds through the Madrid judicial system, with the expectation that any identified offenders could face charges under the hate‑crime provisions cited by Acció Cassandra.