Madrid (AFP)

Several thousand Atlético Madrid supporters gathered around the Neptune fountain in Madrid to celebrate their team's coronation in La Liga on Saturday evening, when the authorities had called for all gatherings to be avoided for health security.

While the health situation has improved in Spain for several weeks, around two thousand supporters gathered around the Neptune fountain in Madrid on Saturday evening, which was barricaded and monitored by the police.

The police did not cut off traffic, and the cars drove through the square, often honking their horns to harangue the crowd, who waved their scarves and banners to the rhythm of the chants "Atléti, Atléti, Atlético de Madrid!" .

It is customary for Atlético Madrid supporters to bathe in this fountain when the team wins a title.

But the health authorities had asked them to avoid any gatherings and the government and the club had called for responsible celebrations.

"It's a bit of a weird celebration ... We weren't able to celebrate as usual, at the stadium, surrounded by all the fans. We are going to celebrate it with a little fear, being careful, with the mask well dressed, "Pablo Diaz, a 22-year-old supporter, who was present near the fountain of Neptune told AFP.

In Valladolid (north-west of Madrid), where Atlético sealed their coronation with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night on the last day of the Spanish championship, supporters were also gathered by the hundreds, outside the stadium José-Zorrilla.

After meeting in the city center, they walked together for around 40 minutes to the stadium, then stayed in the parking lot during the game.

And at the final whistle, by joining their bus, some players joined the supporters present to celebrate the title, like Jan Oblak, carried in the air by the "rojiblancos" fans.

The Atlético club will organize a parade by car in the center of Madrid at 6:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. GMT) on Sunday in accordance with sanitary rules, then will receive its Spanish champion trophy from the hands of the mayor of the capital José Luis. Martínez-Almeida and the president of the Madrid region Isabel Díaz Ayuso at 7.45 p.m. (5.45 p.m. GMT) at the Wanda-Metropolitano stadium.

© 2021 AFP