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Valencia deny ongoing legal process over 'Batman' logo
By Joe Wright
Nov 25, 2014 14:58:32
The club have stated the disputed design was due to be used in a casual clothing line but that they abandoned it when DC Comics raised a complaint back in 2012
Valencia insist there is currently no ongoing legal process with DC Comics over a logo dispute, though they admit they scrapped a clothing range following an earlier complaint.
It emerged last week that the American publishing company had complained the Valencia crest - which incorporates a bat - infringed on the copyright of one of their registered trademark Batman symbols.
Reports suggested DC Comics had filed an 11-page complaint over a proposed redesign of the Valencia badge, which has featured a bat since 1922.
Valencia, however, claim there is no current legal battle between the parties and that the bat design in question, which was originally to be used for a line of casual clothing merchandise, was scrapped following initial opposition in 2012.
A statement on the club's official website, valenciacf.com: "Valencia Club de Futbol wish to clarify the following:
"1. In 2012, Valencia CF applied to the Office of Harmonisation of the Internal Market (OAMI) for trademark registration of a new bat design, to be used for a line of casual clothing. During the registration process, DC Comics filed an objection to our trademark registration. There is no lawsuit, nor any claim by DC Comics against VCF.
"2. Without prejudice to the aforementioned matter, the new bat design is currently not used - and is not planned for future use - by the club.
"3. For purposes of clarification, a bat has been incorporated into the club's official crest since 1922. The official crest and the bat have been trademark registered worldwide and their use has not been subject to any legal challenge."
The city of Valencia's association with the bat reportedly dates back to the 13th century, when it was reclaimed by King James I of Aragon.
According to legend, when the monarch was about to re-enter the city, a bat landed on the top of his flag, prompting the animal to be incorporated into his coat of arms as a symbol of good fortune.
Messi's record will stand for 600 years - Guardiola
Stefan Coerts
Nov 25, 2014 09:45:26
The Bayern boss has hailed his former player's achievement and is hopeful he will stay at the Catalan giants for the rest of his career
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has voiced his admiration for Barcelona star Lionel Messi and thinks it could take 600 years before someone breaks the Argentine's La Liga goalscoring record.
The 27-year-old netted a hat-trick at the weekend to take Telmo Zarra's place in the record books with 253 goals in the Spanish top flight.
Guardiola worked with Messi at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012 and he has nothing but praise for his former pupil.
"You have to congratulate Messi. What he has achieved is astounding," Guardiola said at a press conference.
"He has broken a record that everyone thought was unbreakable, a figure which was unreachable – and one which has stood for 60 years.
"It will take another 600 years before his record is broken."
The Spaniard then went on to discuss Messi's situation at Barcelona in the wake of the attacker's comments suggesting he is unhappy at the club.
"It would make me happy to see Messi finish his career at Barca, I say that from the heart."
Messi has a contract with Barcelona until June 2018.
Real Sociedad coach David Moyes has appointed fellow Scot Billy McKinlay as his assistant at the Liga club.
Former Scotland midfielder McKinlay has been out of work since being sacked by Championship side Watford after only two games in charge.
The 45-year-old will now link up with new Sociedad boss Moyes, who took over in San Sebastian earlier this month and secured a goalless draw in his first game in charge against Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.
McKinlay was employed as assistant coach of Northern Ireland before taking over as Watford manager.
He also spent time on the coaching staff at Fulham and was appointed as joint caretaker manager of the London club before Roy Hodgson took over at Craven Cottage.
In-form Malaga forward Juanmi faces a spell on the sidelines after fracturing his left arm in training on Tuesday.
Malaga confirmed the setback in a statement on their official website on Tuesday.
Juanmi, who has scored in three of his last four appearances, will undergo surgery next Monday in order to correct the injury.
The 21-year-old is therefore certain to miss this weekend's home game against Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Juanmi's injury comes at a particularly inconvenient time given his recent goalscoring form.
He was on target against Rayo Vallecano, Real Sociedad and Eibar prior to the recent international break as Javi Gracia's men extended their winning streak to five matches.
However, Juanmi failed to score when Malaga went down 3-1 to reigning champions Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
La Liga Preview: Real out to break club record at Malaga
26 November 2014
La Liga leaders Real Madrid can set a new club record of 16 consecutive victories in all competitions when they visit Malaga on Saturday.
Wednesday's 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over Basel was their 15th successive triumph, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting his 26th goal of the campaign to seal top spot in Group B.
Real have twice achieved 15 straight wins in the past - in the 1960-61 season under Miguel Munoz and in 2011-12 when Jose Mourinho was at the helm.
And three points at La Rosaleda would give the bulk of Carlo Ancelotti’s team that claimed La Decima - a 10th European title - in May another prestigious entry into Real's catalogue of phenomenal achievements.
Javi Gracia's Malaga were enjoying a purple patch of their own, five consecutive La Liga wins having fired them up the standings, before Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid beat them 3-1 in the capital last weekend - a game that saw both team finish with 10 men as Samuel and Gabi each collected a pair of bookings.
Atletico captain Gabi will therefore be missing when the champions host lowly Deportivo La Coruna in Sunday's early kick-off.
Second-placed Barcelona, meanwhile, are set for a stern examination of their Liga title ambitions when they travel to a stuttering Valencia on Sunday.
Luis Enrique's side head into the 13th round of fixtures two points adrift of leaders Real Madrid at the summit but appear to have emerged from a difficult spell, with Lionel Messi predictably to the fore.
Barca's superstar talisman netted a hat-trick in the 5-1 demolition of Sevilla last weekend, becoming La Liga's all-time record goalscorer in the process.
Messi repeated the dose on Tuesday night, leaving APOEL after a 4-0 Champions League win with the match ball and the distinction of also being the competition's leading marksman.
If fourth-placed Valencia can stop Messi and co in their tracks they could close to within a point of Barcelona, although following a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao before the international break with a 2-1 loss at Levante last time out has checked their early-season momentum somewhat.
Real Sociedad welcome fellow strugglers Elche on Friday evening as the second match of David Moyes' reign in San Sebastian kicks off the weekend action.
Sociedad will aim to end an unusual quirk of their season so far, where their only two La Liga wins have arrived against the high-flying Madrid clubs.
Granada are only a point better off in 15th and face a tricky assignment at fifth-placed Sevilla.
Like Valencia a place and point above them, Sevilla are aiming to bounce back from two winless encounters, while Joaquin Caparros' Granada have drawn three of their last four but have not tasted victory since mid-September.
Elsewhere on Sunday, basement boys Cordoba welcome Villarreal, who sit eighth having claimed a first league win in four attempts against Getafe a week ago.
Getafe entertain Athletic Bilbao in Saturday's early match, while Espanyol and Levante clash in something of a six pointer before another team looking anxiously over their shoulder, Eibar, travel to Celta Vigo.
Almeria close out the week's fixtures with a home game against Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Real Sociedad 3-0 Elche: Vela hat-trick gives Moyes first win
By Ryan Benson
Nov 28, 2014 22:32:19
The Mexican forward smashed in three goals to give the former Manchester United manager his first taste of victory in La Liga
Carlos Vela 's hat-trick earned David Moyes a first win in charge of Real Sociedad as his new side beat Elche 3-0 on Friday.
Moyes' reign at Anoeta began with a dour 0-0 stalemate at Deportivo La Coruna last Saturday, but Vela was on hand to inspire the Scot's team this week.
It took just three minutes for Mexico international Vela to score the first goal of Moyes' tenure, as he met Carlos Martinez's cross from the right with a bullet header.
By no means did Sociedad have it all their own way, though, with Elche's highly rated Brazilian forward Jonathas causing all sorts of problems for Gorka Elustondo and Ion Ansotegi at centre-back.
But Moyes' men looked lethal on the counterattack and Vela netted his second of the game at the end of an incisive breakaway just after the half-hour mark, finishing low after a brilliant lofted pass from captain Xabi Prieto.
And Vela again proved a thorn in the visitors' side early in the second half, the former Arsenal man completing his hat-trick in the 53rd minute by poking through a defender's legs and into the bottom-left corner.
The win lifts Sociedad three points above the Liga relegation zone, while Elche remain second from bottom.
The midfielder says he is tired and cannot wait for the summer to arrive already but the coach maintains he will play against Malaga
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists Toni Kroos will play in Saturday's meeting with Malaga despite the midfielder's claims he is tired.
The Germany international has spoken of his fatigue, having featured throughout the second half of last term for former club Bayern Munich before playing at the World Cup and becoming a regular at the Santiago Bernabeu since his arrival.
However, while acknowledging the wariness of his players, Ancelotti is not prepared to rotate for this weekend's clash with Malaga as Real eye a club-record 16th win in a row.
"I see the tiredness of the team," he said on Friday. "They have recovered very well. We will do some rotations next week in the cup match against Cornella.
"We need Kroos, but he may rest next week
"We have Asier Illarramendi to replace Kroos now he has come back from an injury, and he played very well against Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"We will have no problem swapping Kroos for Illarramendi."
Sami Khedira remains unavailable for selection due to a knee injury, but Ancelotti is adamant that he would like to see the World Cup winner stay at the club beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of the season.
"Khedira is still not ready to play, he needs some more days to work on his fitness," the Italian said. "I think he will be ready next week.
"The will of the club is to extend his contract. We need him, I have great confidence in Khedira.
"He will put aside his physical problems and play for us."
La Liga Review: Real win 16th straight, Bilbao form continues
29 November 2014
Real Madrid picked up a club-record 16th consecutive win as Athletic Bilbao's revival continued in La Liga on Saturday.
Madrid eased to a 2-1 victory at Malaga as Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale got on the scoresheet for the league leaders.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti had found his future called into question after Real lost consecutive league games to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid in September.
But the European champions have been irresistible since then, winning every game they have played in all competitions and netting an incredible 59 goals in the process.
Benzema opened the scoring early on at La Rosaleda after fine work by Cristiano Ronaldo, before Bale grabbed the crucial second late on with an excellent finish after latching on to Ronaldo's flicked header.
Former Malaga playmaker Isco was then harshly sent off for a second booking, before Roque Santa Cruz ensured Real would face a nervy last minute or so when he nodded home in stoppage time.
However, Ancelotti's side held on for a deserved three points that ensures they will end the weekend top of La Liga.
Athletic Bilbao's return to form continued as they claimed a 2-1 victory at Getafe.
Mikel San Jose and Benat netted for Ernesto Valverde's men, who have won five of their past seven matches in all competitions after a poor start to the season.
San Jose headed Bilbao into a 36th-minute lead, getting to the near post to guide in Benat's corner.
Benat went from provider to goalscorer a minute before the end, curling in a 20-yard free-kick into the bottom corner.
Angel Lafita's header from a Fredy Hinestroza cross in the first minute of additional time made for an entertaining finish, but Bilbao held on.
Bilbao moved into 18 points and ninth place, while Getafe are 12th.
Elsewhere, Espanyol enjoyed a 2-1 victory at home to Levante and Eibar moved six points clear of the relegation zone with a surprise 1-0 win at Celta de Vigo.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone insists his side will not underestimate the challenge of Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
The visitors will arrive at the Vicente Calderon having not won in their last four games, a run that has seen them complete three goalless draws.
In contrast, Simeone's Atletico have only lost once in their last eight and they will be expected to claim three points and keep the pressure on city rivals Real at the top of La Liga.
Nevertheless, the Argentinian insists Atletico cannot take anything for granted.
He told reporters: "We will see how it goes. It is clear that we will need a strong start, and look at how to hurt the other team, who come here on the back of three really good matches, defending really well.
"That has to make us more focused and see if they play with five in the back and three in the middle, or with four like they have done sometimes."
Simeone is confident his side can deliver, adding: "I think the team is improving and growing. The team work has been maximized, making individuals shine more. And that is what makes us happy.
"When the team grows, the individuals are stronger. Thanks to this teamwork, we can see a team keeping regularity, the most difficult thing in the game."
La Liga Review: Last-gasp Barca maintain chase as Atleti-Depor violence takes tragic turn
30 November 2014
Sergio Busquets' first La Liga goal for 14 months handed Barcelona a dramatic 1-0 win at Valencia on Sunday.
Luis Enrique's team produced a largely laboured showing, but remain two points behind in-form leaders Real Madrid after Busquets blasted home inside a crowded penalty area deep into stoppage time.
Valencia would have been good value for a point at the Mestalla and almost led through Sofiane Feghouli and Alvaro Negredo before Busquets had the final word.
The match ended on an unsavoury note when Lionel Messi appeared to be struck by an object thrown from the crowd during Barcelona's goal celebrations.
Events off the field took a tragic turn ahead of the early kick-off between Atletico Madrid and Deportivo as clashes between rival fans left one dead and 11 injured.
Despite attempts from the LFP (National Professional Football League) to have the game postponed, Atletico won 2-0 thanks to goals from Saul and Arda Turan.
Sevilla remain three points shy of Atletico in fourth and were the day’s big winners as they romped to a 5-1 thumping of neighbours Granada.
Unai Emery's team put four matches without a win in all competitions behind them as Carlos Bacca opened the scoring when the visitors failed to clear Gerard Deulofeu's set-piece.
Youssef El Arabi's penalty ensured the match was level at half-time, but four goals in the last 25 minutes saw Sevilla run away with the contest.
Ever Banega converted the rebound after his volley came back off the crossbar, Bacca converted his second emphatically from close range and replacement Kevin Gameiro completed the scoring after crossing for Stephane Mbia to head home in the 89th minute.
Villarreal are three points and a place behind fifth-placed Valencia thanks to a 2-0 victory that meant 13 league matches without a win for basement boys Cordoba.
Lucas Vietto broke the deadlock midway through the first half and Ike Uche sealed the points after the interval.
Valencia have vowed to hand a lifetime ban to the fan who threw a bottle of water at Barcelona's Lionel Messi in Sunday's game at Mestalla.
The Barca star was hit by the object in injury time of the La Liga encounter as he and his team-mates celebrated Sergio Busquets' last-gasp goal, which gave the Catalan club a 1-0 victory.
And Valencia have been quick to blast the actions of the supporter, promising to locate the person in question and and hand down a severe punishment.
A statement on Valencia's official website read: "Valencia CF regrets and condemns the isolated incident in the game against FC Barcelona, in which a small, uncapped bottle of water was thrown from the stands at opposition player Lionel Messi.
"The club will endeavour to locate the person who threw the bottle, and they will be banned for life from Mestalla.
"Valencia CF operates a zero tolerance policy on such actions and rigorously enforce all security measures set out by legislation."
Barca stay second in the table as a result of Busquets' winner, while Valencia drop out of the top four and down to fifth.
Jese Rodriguez is set to make his Real Madrid comeback in Tuesday's Copa del Rey round-of-32 second leg against Cornella.
The 21-year-old forward has not played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in Real's UEFA Champions League fixture against Schalke in March.
However, speaking ahead of Tuesday's match at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Jese will return, while also revealing that 20-year-old midfielder Medran is in line for his maiden first-team start.
"Medran will play against Cornella and Jese will be playing in the second half," the Italian told his pre-game media briefing on Monday.
Ancelotti went on to indicate that he plans to play a strong team against third-tier Cornella, despite having seen his side win the first leg 4-1 at the end of October.
Real are on a club-record streak of 16 consecutive victories in all competitions - and Ancelotti is determined to keep that run going, with only a handful of first-team regulars to be given a rest ahead of Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo.
Among those to be given the evening off is Germany midfielder Toni Kroos, who claimed he feels tired last week.
"[Sami] Khedira is available," Ancelotti added.
"Marcelo, Pepe, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Karim] Benzema and Kroos will rest. The others will all play."
Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez has left hospital after suffering a blow to the head in Sunday's win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Gimenez sustained a knock to the head during the 2-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon - which was marred by supporter clashes before the game, which resulted in a Deportivo fan passing away - but played the remainder of the game before going for tests.
Once a neurological exam and a cranial CT scan had been completed, the Uruguayan was admitted to the Monteprincipe Hospital for overnight observation.
However, the club confirmed on Monday that the 19-year-old had been discharged from the hospital.
"Jose Maria Gimenez was discharged from the hospital this morning after spending the night for observation at the Monteprincipe Hospital," read a statement on the Spanish champions' website.
"The centre-back was transferred to the FREMAP clinic in Majadahonda, where he underwent a neurological exam and a cranial CT scan. Once the tests were complete, he was admitted to the Monteprincipe Hospital."
Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu missed training on Monday due to a virus.
The 31-year-old started Barca's 1-0 La Liga win at former club Valencia on Sunday, before being substituted with just over 20 minutes remaining.
And Barca confirmed on Monday that Matheu was absent from training after being struck down by illness.
"Jeremy Mathieu...was unable to take part in Monday morning's training session due to a virus," read a club statement.
"He will return to action as soon as he is feeling better."
Barca's victory at Valencia was sealed by an injury-time winner from Sergio Busquets, with the Catalan club's attentions now switching to Wednesday's Copa del Rey round-of-32 first leg against third-tier Huesca.
Coach Luis Enrique will have a full squad to choose from for the game at Estadio El Alcoraz, with the possible exception of Mathieu, who seems likely to be rested.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique defended his decision to rotate players after his side battled to a 1-0 victory at Valencia.
Sergio Busquets fired in a 94th-minute winner for Barcelona on Sunday as they moved back within two points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Not for the first time this season, his selection was questioned and he defended his decisions to rotate his squad.
"I'm convinced that the best way to get to the end of the season is by playing as a team and using as many players as possible in the best way we can," Luis Enrique said.
"I have always worked like that, and at Barca it hasn't been going badly so far."
Barca had to wait until the dying seconds to get their winner as Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves kept out Neymar's header, only for Busquets to fire in.
Luis Enrique said there were still areas for his side to work on, but he believes they are heading in the right direction.
"There are still some imprecisions, but we played well," he said.
"This team is ready to go hand-in-hand right until the end to get the win. We got our strategy right and managed to control the game.
"We still need to improve, but so does every team in the competition. We're on the right track."
A Deportivo La Coruna fan has died following clashes between supporters before their game with Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
The Liga match at the Vicente Calderon went ahead despite the best efforts of the LFP (National Professional Football League), which confirmed that it tried to have the game postponed following the trouble outside the stadium.
Initial reports indicated that the incidents left 11 injured and one supporter critically ill, and it has now been confirmed that a fan has passed away as a result of injuries sustained in the disturbances.
The violence has been condemned by both clubs, with the Spanish Football Association (RFEF) expressing its regret in an official statement.
"The Spanish FA wants to express its deepest condolences to the family, supporters and board of Deportivo de la Coruna, while being available to all of them due to the death of the supporter of the team, happened as consequence of the serious incidents that occurred this morning in the surroundings of Vicente Calderon, protagonised by ultras," the RFEF said.
"The FA energetically condemns all acts of this kind, that nothing have to do with football, and shows its most forceful rejection of violence.
"The FA will continue working hard, with all the means, in the same way it is doing already, with the goal of not allowing this kind of event to happen again."
Atletico went on to beat Deportivo 2-0 through goals from Saul and Arda Turan.
Miguel Angel Gil Marin has insisted that Atletico Madrid can't disband their ultras group following the death of a fan outside Vicente Calderon.
The Frente Atletico reportedly brawled with Deportivo ultras near Los Colchoneros' stadium, which resulted in a visiting supporter dying from multiple injuries.
However, the Atleti CEO refused to pin the actions of one person onto the entire Frente Atletico and maintained that the club had no external dealings with the ultras group.
"I am repulsed and hurt by what happened because we had taken the steps to prevent this from happening, but I'm not one to dissolve the Frente Atletico," he told Cadena Cope.
"The club do not give any ultras money or match tickets, nor do we provide them with anything else, but there is always one idiot amongst those 4,000.
"I have friends whose children sit in the south stand, and they are good, well-mannered people.
"If someone is able to prove who [was responsible], we will denounce them as soon as possible."
Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti has challenged the footballing authorities to rid violent behaviour from the game.
A Deportivo supporter died following a mass brawl outside Vicente Calderon prior to Atletico Madrid's match with the Galicians on Sunday, and the Italian felt the tragedy stemmed from a 'cultural problem' in Latin countries.
"It's a day of sadness," he admitted to assembled journalists at a Press conference ahead of Los Blancos' Copa del Rey tie with Cornella tomorrow.
"Everyone in football hopes this never happens, but bad luck has come our way. It is important to condemn any violence in football.
"It's clear that the entire football world must work together in order to avoid this recurring in the future.
"In England, for example, they've done very well to eliminate this kind of behaviour. They used to have hooligans, but they did an amazing job [to eradicate them] and thus solved the problem.
"There's no violence there, neither is there much police around the stadia. The fans don't fight and there are always children present. In England I never received an insult.
"15 days ago, a guy swore at me for an entire match from behind the dugout. It's a cultural problem.
"I speak as an Italian and on behalf of Latin culture, like the Spanish. We can improve a lot.
"Madrid are a good example [of an ethically-responsible club] and Barcelona did the same in the past. All clubs can do something.
"In France, they are also doing very well. Radical groups need to become extinct. Football fans must be just fans, not radicalists.
"We all have to condemn any form of violence, whether it's a bottle at a player or whatever else.
"We all must do something. Everyone can do something. We're not happy, we're sad and we have to clean this up.
"From time to time you hear bad words, but the best thing is to just ignore it.
"There are many fans who do it and [abandoning matches because of explicit chants] would give it more importance than it should have."
'The ball doesn't want to go in!' - Suarez stumped by Liga goal drought
By Mark Doyle
Dec 1, 2014 07:58:00
The €86 million summer signing failed to find the net in Sunday's 1-0 at Valencia, meaning he has now gone five Primera Division games without a goal
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has admitted his frustration at finding himself unable to end his Liga goal drought, lamenting that "the ball doesn't want to go in" for him.
The Uruguay international netted for the first time in a Blaugrana shirt in Tuesday's Champions League win at APOEL but he has yet to open his Primera Division account since making his debut against Real Madrid on October 25.
Suarez had two major chances to score in Sunday's 1-0 victory at Valencia, which came courtesy of Sergio Busquets' last-gasp strike, but he was denied by a brilliant first-half save from Diego Alves before then being incorrectly flagged offside after tapping home with 20 minutes to go.
"It’s an odd situation," the former Liverpool striker told reporters after the game. "The ball doesn’t want to go in but I’m always working on it.
"The goalkeeper saved the first one, but the second made me angry because I could see that I wasn’t offside.
"I took a step back to make sure I was in the right position, in line, and that’s why I was angry. It was a fair goal."
Despite his disappointment, Suarez insists that he is capable of forming a prolific attacking triumvirate with fellow forwards Lionel Messi and Neymar.
"My relationship with Messi and Neymar on the pitch is improving all the time," the 27-year-old declared. "But there are other players in the squad who can also do their bit to help the team."
Indeed, Suarez was delighted that Sergio Busquets had decided a game in Barca's favour that could easily have gone either way.
"In games like these, you know you’re up against a tough opponent, and so you enjoy winning more and it strengthens the team," the ex-Ajax man enthused.
"Of course it could have been a very different situation. We could have taken a couple of chances and won the match, but then again, so could they."
Barca's dramatic win at Mestalla sees them draw back to within two points of Liga leaders Real Madrid ahead of Wednesday's Copa del Rey clash with Huesca.
The Secretary of State for Sport, Miguel Cardenal, has outlined plans to clean up football in the country after the death of a Deportivo fan in violent clashes in Madrid on Sunday
Radical ultras are set to be banned from attending football matches altogether in an attempt to eradicate violence in Spanish sport, a senior government official said on Monday.
Spain's Secretary of State for Sport, Miguel Cardenal, outlined plans to clean up the game after the shocking events on Sunday, when violent clashes between groups of Atletico and Deportivo supporters saw one Galician fan fatally wounded and many more badly injured.
At a press conference alongside Secretary of State for Security Francisco Martinez, Police Director General Ignacio Cosido and Citizen Security General Commissioner Florentino Villabona in Madrid on Monday, Cardenal said: "There will be a before and after this event in football and you will be able to see that soon. It has been suggested to us that we make a list of the ultra groups in order to expel them from the stadiums and fix a time to carry that out. There is also a proposal [from the LFP] to close stands in stadiums like in other European countries.
"I have already passed these plans onto the clubs and you can have no doubt that this will be achieved. It's a journey that some clubs have already undertaken. The commitment is clear and determined - and I'm sure it will be efficient."
And he added: "There are many criminal lists, but we are talking about creating an official list so that these measures can be taken."
Cardenal also admitted that authorities are investigating how ultras were able to get hold of tickets without police knowledge in the first place.
"There was a pack of tickets unknown to the police and those weren't controlled," he said. "That is something we are looking into."
For his part, Martinez revealed that 21 arrests were made following Sunday's clashes.
"We collected weapons in the area: two knives, one piece of wood, two firecrackers, one flare and 10 aluminium poles," he said. "And there are 21 detainees: 12 from Riazor Blues (Deportivo), six from Frente Atletico, two from Bukaneros (Rayo Vallecano) and one fan of Alcorcon."
Meanwhile, Barcelona have released a statement condemning the violence in Madrid.
“Following yesterday’s events in which one person was killed and several were injured as a result of a confrontation between supporters of Atletico Madrid and Deportivo, FC Barcelona wishes to express its absolute rejection of any act of violence in the world of sport and of football in particular," it read.
"FC Barcelona has always taken a zero tolerance attitude to violence in sport and adds its name to the many expressions of condolence for the victim of the incidents in Madrid."
The Catalan club also revealed they had made contact with the Secretary of State for Sport, the LFP and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to "collaborate in any way necessary" and ensure that "events like those on Sunday never happen again".
