RC Deportivo faces damages and risk of sanctions after stadium riots. RC Deportivo reported extensive damage at ABANCA-RIAZOR following their promotion to La Liga. The club condemned the vandalism and warned of possible sanctions and risks for the upcoming international match in A Coruña.
RC Deportivo has officially condemned the mass acts of vandalism that took place at the ABANCA-RIAZOR stadium following the match that brought the club a long-awaited return to La Liga. The post-celebration period saw serious infrastructure damage: 752 seats were ripped out or broken—15 times more than are typically damaged over an entire season. Additionally, elements of the stadium property, the club museum, and the pitch itself suffered; around fifteen areas of the field were found to have been damaged by pyrotechnics.
The RC Deportivo management emphasized that such actions not only caused significant material damage but also posed a safety risk to thousands of fans, including families with children. The mass pitch invasion and use of pyrotechnics led to dangerous situations that, in the club's view, are unacceptable at sporting events.
Of particular concern is the fact that the aftermath of the unrest required urgent repairs to the stadium just days before the international match between Spain and Iraq. This cast doubt on the organization of a major sporting event in A Coruña and created additional uncertainty for the city.
The club also stated that the incidents may lead to disciplinary proceedings and hefty fines, as well as the possible partial closure of stands. RC Deportivo reminded that ABANCA-RIAZOR is a shared asset of the fans, and its preservation depends on everyone's responsibility. The club continues to cooperate with law enforcement to identify those responsible and is considering disciplinary and financial measures.
The situation surrounding the stadium unrest has become one of the most discussed topics in Spanish football in recent days. It is important to note that similar incidents involving mass disorder and the risk of sanctions have already impacted the course of the season in other leagues, as was the case during the fight for the play-offs in Primera RFEF, where teams' fates were decided amid heightened tension — you can find more on this in the article about the decisive round and the battle for play-off qualification.
For reference: ABANCA-RIAZOR is the home stadium of RC Deportivo in A Coruña, with a capacity of over 30,000 spectators. In recent years, the club has faced difficult times, but fan support has remained strong. In Spain, responsibility for behavior at stadiums lies not only with the clubs but also with the spectators themselves: serious violations can result in both fines and restrictions on attending matches. In 2026, safety requirements at sports venues were tightened, especially ahead of international games.
