Osasuna stated there was "no racist chant" against Real Madrid

Atletico Osasuna has assured that in last Saturday's match "no racist chant was uttered" and has demanded "an immediate rectification from the media that have offered information that does not conform to the reality of the events" that took place in the match against Real Madrid, assuring that it will "sue those who persist in the fallacy".

This is stated in a statement in which it affirms that it "will not tolerate the reputation of the Osasuna fans being tarnished, who throughout their history have been known precisely for their anti-racist stance".

The Navarre club responded in this way to the statement issued on Monday by Real Madrid, who reported the complaint lodged with the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) against the referee who officiated their match against Osasuna, Juan Martinez Munuera, for "negligent drafting of the refereeing report", in which he claims that he "deliberately and willfully omitted" the insults received by Brazilian Vinicius Junior.

Osasuna and its fans "will always stand by any footballer who suffers racist insults, which have no place in sport or in society. For this reason, the club wishes to show its solidarity with players such as Vinicius Junior and Peter Federico Gonzalez, who weeks ago have been the target of condemnable, shameful and unacceptable racist attacks," said the Navarre club.

He gives as an example their support for the 'LaLigaVS' campaign: "The Osasuna players took to the field, as did 17 other LaLiga EA Sports clubs, wearing shirts commemorating the campaign. Real Madrid did not, as they opted to customise their own shirt with an anti-racism slogan".

Likewise, Osasuna regrets that it was not possible to take a joint photograph of both teams showing the union of all against racism, as was offered by the 'Rojillo' club and as happened in all the other La Liga grounds.

March 19, 2024

In addition, the Pamplona club rejects the insults that in no case had racist references and that a minority of people uttered last Saturday at El Sadar Stadium. The club expresses its rejection of this type of chanting which, unfortunately, its players also have to suffer when they visit other La Liga stadiums.

In any case, Osasuna "assumes the mission of continuing with its awareness-raising work to eradicate, however minor it may be, any behaviour that does not conform to the values of sport. These sporting values must also be promoted by the players with attitudes of respect towards their opponents and the referees, and it is the obligation of each club to educate its professionals in these values".

The statement ends by thanking the fans "who, for the most part, behaved excellently despite the painful result".

"El Sadar once again proved to be a welcoming stadium where a good number of rival fans were able to wear their team's colours without any problem, which unfortunately does not yet happen in other stadiums when those travelling are Osasuna fans," the statement notes.

As an example, the club cites last May's final in Sevilla against Real Madrid: "The Osasuna fans again offered exemplary behaviour, just as they did in the last final of the Copa del Rey between the two teams and in which, despite 23,000 'Rojillos' travelling, there was not a single incident".