Atlético de Madrid, victim of a referee plot in the Champions League? The supporters groups explode against UEFA

The Union of Clubs and Signals of Smoke denounce an “adulterated competition” and demand a firm stance from the red-and-white board.

The indignation has reached unsuspected levels in the surroundings of the Cívitas Metropolitano. After the agonizing elimination of Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals at the hands of Arsenal, the red and white fans have decided to raise their voices. The Union of Atlético de Madrid Supporters Clubs, in a forceful statement also signed by the Signales de Humo association, has pointed directly to UEFA and its refereeing designs, describing the top European club competition as “adulterated and manipulated.”

The trigger for this angry protest is none other than the performance of German referee Daniel Siebert in the second leg against the Gunners. The clubs claim the non-existence of up to three penalties in favor of Atlético, two of them, in their opinion, “clear”. Added to this is the referee's alleged permissiveness in the face of the London team's repeated losses of time, a factor that, in his opinion, tipped the balance unfairly.

The words of the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, resonated strongly and served as an echo for the feelings of the supporters' clubs. “Atlético did not play against Arsenal, but against UEFA,” said the mayor, a statement that has been welcomed as a rallying cry by fan groups. The statement goes further, suggesting that UEFA has a hidden agenda that does not consider Atlético de Madrid as a possible champion of the Champions League, a tournament that, in its harsh words, is “corrupt from all sides.”

The criticism does not stop at the refereeing. The supporters clubs have also launched a swipe at the mattress entity itself, accusing it of a deafening “silence” every time they face what they consider “abuses” on the part of UEFA. This silence, they fear, could be interpreted as a sign of submission and docility, a strategy to gain the favor of the leaders of the highest body of European football and thus integrate into a system that they consider flawed.

A particularly sensitive point is the permanence of Miguel Ángel Gil Marín as a member of the UEFA Executive Committee. The clubs do not understand this duality and demand that Apollo Sports Capital, the club's owners, take a clear position. The dilemma is clear: “either you are with us, or you are with them.” Equidistances, they argue, no longer have a place in this scenario.

The final demand of the statement is a call to action for the club's directors. Gil and Óscar Mayo, the top officials, have the opportunity, according to the supporters' clubs, to demonstrate whether they live Atlético with the same passion as a fan or if, on the contrary, their relationship with the club is limited to a mere professional interest. They are asked for a “belligerent attitude towards the excesses of UEFA, public and express.”

But the legal battle of the clubs against UEFA is not new. The International Union of Supporters Clubs had filed a complaint for falsifying documents, in relation to an edited video that showed an alleged double touch by Julián Álvarez in the penalty shootout against Real Madrid in the previous edition of the Champions League. However, the Provincial Court of Madrid has decided not to admit said complaint to processing. A resolution that they do not share and that they intend to appeal to higher authorities, seeking protection in the right to effective judicial protection.

This episode reopens the debate about the influence and power of the refereeing establishments in elite football. The passion of the athletic fans, channeled through their supporters' clubs, stands as a retaining wall in the face of what they consider a systematic injustice. The ball, now, is in the court of the red and white board, which must decide whether to heed the clamor of its followers or maintain its current relationship strategy with the body that governs European football.

The athletic fans, faithful and passionate, cling to the hope that their voice will be heard and that justice will be done on the field of play, far from extra-sports controversies. The future of the relationship between Atlético de Madrid and UEFA appears tense, to say the least.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why are the Atlético de Madrid supporters clubs angry?
The supporters' clubs are angry about what they consider to be a series of unfair refereeing decisions against Atlético de Madrid during the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Arsenal, in addition to denouncing the referee's alleged permissiveness with the rival team's time losses.
What do the supporters clubs demand from Atlético de Madrid?
They demand from the club's board a “belligerent and public” attitude in the face of what they consider “UEFA's excesses”, and ask the owners to clearly position themselves in favor of the fans or UEFA.
What is “Smoke Signals”?
Signals de Humo is another Atlético de Madrid fan association that signs the statement together with the Unión de Peñas.
What do the supporters' clubs think about UEFA?
They denounce that UEFA “does not want Atleti to win the Champions League” and describe the competition as “recurrently adulterated and manipulated for the benefit of clubs affiliated with a corrupt system.”
What relationship does Miguel Ángel Gil Marín have with UEFA?
Miguel Ángel Gil Marín is a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, a situation that the supporters' clubs do not understand given the current situation.
What happened with the complaint against UEFA for the Julián Álvarez case?
The complaint filed for falsification of documents against UEFA for the alleged double touch of Julián Álvarez was not admitted for processing by the Provincial Court of Madrid, but the clubs will appeal.
Who was the referee for the second leg against Arsenal?
The referee was Daniel Siebert.
Which team eliminated Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals?
Arsenal.
What do the clubs ask of Apollo Sports Capital?
They ask them to clearly position themselves, stating whether they are on the side of the fans or on the side of UEFA.
Where can they find more information and join the fan community?
You can join our community on Telegram: https://t.me/casino_gurus