Automatically translated from Basque, translation may contain errors. More information here. Elhuyarren itzultzaile automatikoaren logoa

Football, violence and aggression, a sport culture?

  • In mid-April the Amurrio - Salvatierra party had to be suspended by the judge after terrible attacks. Captain Amurrio Iñigo Fraile and clay player and trainer Angela Vadillo talk about this fact and the violence that occurs in the field.
Amurrio Clubeko beste partida baten artxibo irudia. / Chris GDPhoto

09 May 2023 - 10:20

On April 16, the Amurrio Club-Salvatierra was being a normal match in the Basarte football field, but when there was little time left to finish the match, a player from the Agurain club gave a handful to one from Amurrio. The Ayalese captain Iñigo Fraile explains what happened next: “We approached to see what was going on and also another Salvatian player made a 20-meter race and gave a flying kick to colleague Mikel Elejalde.”

Thus, the judge had to suspend the match and the members of the Salvatierra club had to leave the back door of Basarte. Frail himself has confessed that he has never seen it throughout his life and even more so in a competition where there was no special tension.

Also CD player Orduña Angela Vadillo and the Altzarrate Sports Club coach mention that she has never witnessed such a fight in football: “But I have been told the attacks that have taken place both on the field and outside. In any case, verbal violence is the most common in women’s football.”

Violence in football

If Frail and Vadillo have never seen it and the party was not particularly conflictive, what caused the violence? Aiaraldea Komunikabideak recalls that the previous days saw two highly prestigious attacks on elite football. On the one hand, the player of Real Madrid Fe Valverde, club member Alex Baena Villareal, waited and hit on his way. Meanwhile, Munich’s breakthrough, Sadio Mane Bayern, stabbed his teammate Leroy Sane after losing in the costume against Machester City.

Chronology makes sense. The two tickets were a few days before the Amurrio match. Iñigo Frail explains that he believes that these attitudes mainly influence children: “They copy what their idols do, but seeing Basarte, perhaps we should also reflect on adults.”

“Verbal violence is the most common in women’s football”

Angela Vadillo shares her opinion and believes that the behaviour of elite players does not often help izaten.Ezta either the media or clubs. For example, Marc, the most widely read newspaper in Spain, extended and approved the version of Fe Valverde, and Real Madrid has taken no action against the player, not even his coach. These criteria can be compared to those shown by Bayern Munich.

The Germans put a financial penalty on Man and kicked him out. In addition, the attacker had to speak for the aggressor so that he was not expelled from the team, which was the intention of the Bavarian club.

Insults and justifications

The origin of both attacks, according to the aggressors themselves, was an offensive comment (although in both cases one can question versions to a greater or lesser extent). Be it true or lie, both Frail and Vadillo have confirmed that verbal violence is very common in football. “I have played at level 3 for several years and that was very common, and physical attacks were also frequent, such as blows on the back,” Frail said.

Angela Vadillo underlined that in female football verbal violence is very common at times of tension of the games: “It is not as in professional football, players do not know us and there are no personal comments, but it happens often. In any case, there are no comments to justify the attack on anyone, both inside and outside the football field.”

Violence in football's DNA?

When the aggressions, of both kinds, are so naturalised, must we conclude that they are within the nature of this sport? Iñigo Frail and Angela Vadillo are unclear. They believe that all players should reflect critically on their behavior within the field and that Frail and Vadillo, as coaches, encourage diversion, non-simulation and respect for the judge’s work.

“Children copy what their idols do, but seeing Basarte we may also have to reflect on adults”

It is clear, however, that, apart from their own attitude, football organisations can do more to prevent violence. In recent years progress has been made against racism and the same should be done with regard to the attacks that take place both in the field and outside. Both are pessimistic and of the same opinion: “We must change a lot in order for this situation to occur.”

You just have to compare it to a sport like rugby. This sport is much more violent than football (pushing or throwing opponents is part of the game), but the fight against the judge is heavily punished and when the matches end the so-called third party comes. That is, the players of the two teams together celebrate play in a relaxed atmosphere between their peers, while eating a snack or drinking thunder.


You are interested in the channel: Kirola
2025-02-06 | Gedar
Buses set to travel to Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday to protest against Maccabi
The Israeli state basketball team will play in Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday and Solidarity with Palestine has called for its mobilisation.

Iñigo Cabacas Herri Harmaila
“Jazarpena azken urte eta erdian areagotu da”

Iñigo Cabacas Herri Harmaila taldea eta Athleticen arteko harremana nahaspilatuta dago azkenaldian. Iñigo Cabacas Herri Harmailako Iñigorekin hitz egiteko aukera izan dugu astelehenean.


2025-01-29 | Leire Ibar
Solidarity with Palestine gathers nearly 200 signatures to prevent Maccabi’s departure from Vitoria
The pro-Palestinian movement has presented a manifesto demanding the cessation of the competition between the Israeli basketball team and Baskonia. 40 basketball clubs from the Basque Country, teams and amateur teams from Baskonia, 91 personalities from the world of sport and... [+]

School sport vs club debate in full swing
The Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa will now appeal the ruling that a child who wants to work in a sports club does not have to do school sports. On the one hand, the freedom to choose the sport that the child wants, on the other hand, the model that favors educational and... [+]

2025-01-15 | Jon Torner Zabala
Basque Selection
On the road to officialdom, an open reindeer?
The International Federation of Basque Ball has taken the step of achieving the official status of the Basque Country Selekzioa, accepting that the Federation of the Basque Country is a full member. “It’s a historic achievement,” the Basque Country said on 28 December, but... [+]

2025-01-13 | Jon Torner Zabala
The Basque Country Selekzioa is now preparing to support the pelotaris who renounce the selections of France or Spain
The Basque Country Selekzioa Orain held its first general meeting at the Makea in Lapurdi. Fifteen pelotaris from Ipar Euskal Herria who announced last summer their renunciation to play with the French team today complete the initiative which aims, among others, to make known... [+]

2025-01-13 | Gerardo Luzuriaga
Selection of the Basque Country?

The achievement of the Euskadi Selection has undoubtedly been a historic achievement. But if you stick to that, for many Basques – I too, because I am Navarro – it will be the darkest and saddest day. After enjoying the joy and warmth of the first few days, let's go back to... [+]


It has been achieved. You have done it! We have achieved that. Congratulations and thank you.

After so many years of struggle for it, 34 years, precisely, we are very pleased with the decision taken a few days ago, on 28 December, Innocent Day, in Pamplona, at the assembly organized by the International Federation of Basque Ball. Well, from now on we will have the... [+]


2025-01-08 | Leire Ibar
They call for the suspension of the Israeli Maccabi party in Vitoria
On 7 February, the Maccabi of Tel Aviv faces Baskonia in Vitoria-Gasteiz with the intention of qualifying for the Endesa League. The Palestinian Solidarity Platform has denounced that Israel uses its cultural and sports initiatives to "curb crimes against the Palestinian... [+]

2025-01-08 | Onintza Enbeita
Garazi Murua. Captain of the team
"Gabarra is not an exclusive symbol of men: it is of all"
It was in 2002 that she first saw eleven women wearing red white t-shirt in San Mamés. Garazi Murua understood that the chances of his dream coming true were real. He became the captain of the Athletic Club’s women’s team, but an injury has forced him to retire... [+]

2025-01-03 | Jon Torner Zabala
Spanish Football Federation
"We will use all the legal tools at our disposal to protect the rights of Spain"
As many expected, following the approval by the International Football Federation of the Basque Country as a full member, Spanish sports organizations, political parties or media have begun an offensive against the decision. On Thursday, the Spanish Football Federation announced... [+]

Court orders to reopen the case of another person injured in the eye in the Real-PSG party
In the charges made by the Ertzaintza before the San Sebastian football match in March 2024, in addition to the amateur Amaya Zabarte, a second person was injured, apparently by a visual impact with a foam ball. Now, the Provincial Court of Gipuzkoa has also ordered the... [+]

2025-01-02 | Leire Ibar
The International Football Federation denies the accusations of the Spanish Football Federation
The Spanish Basque Ball Federation has denounced that it has not been allowed to participate in the National Congress of the International Ball Federation last weekend. At that meeting, the recognition of the Basque federation as a full member of the international community... [+]

Platform with neighbours against the celebration of the football world cup in Donostia-San Sebastián: "We will not celebrate any Goal against us!"
The neighborhood platform has criticized that Donostia-San Sebastian is one of the headquarters of the 2030 World Cup, in an edition organized by Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Although they are covered by "empty speeches" such as "placing the city on the world map" and "bringing the... [+]

2024-12-30 | Jon Torner Zabala
First step for the official Basque selection, after the vote of the International Football Federation in favour of it
The International Federation of Basque Ball has approved this Saturday in Pamplona/Iruña to be a full member of the Basque Ball Federation. It is an important step on the road to official status, a "historic achievement", as stated by the Basque Federation, but it has remembered... [+]

Eguneraketa berriak daude