The quarter-final matches of the King’s Cup of Spain are played according to the knockout system, meaning that Barcelona hosts Real Sociedad at home, and Atletico Madrid is a guest on its neighbor Real Madrid in the capital’s derby under the slogan “The loser goes out.”

However, the local newspaper "Marca" revealed what it called "a surreal and sad event in the history of Spanish football," as "Barca" and "Royal" (the La Liga giants) reserved the right to approve the entry of competing fans who wear shirts, scarves or symbols of the two Sociedad teams. And “Atlético” to the Camp Nou and Bernabeu stadiums, respectively.

Although this measure is legal, it represents a very dangerous precedent for the game, which is supposed to constitute a "supposed space for harmony and coexistence," according to "Marca".

Barcelona was the first to apply this path, which continues in the quarter-finals of the cup, as it banned the entry of fans of the Espanyol and Real women’s teams to the Camp Nou, and lifted the veto for the blue and white fans (Espanyol) in La Liga at the end of last year, and the last ban was the spark for igniting the fuse.

And "Marca" published - last Saturday - that the Catalan club invoked the rules of "non-violence to impose this type of restriction."

This measure may be "legal if the match is of high risk" but it is now adopted as an approach to prevent entry to fans of opposing teams.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FC Barcelona (@fcbarcelona)

Because of the "rule" imposed by "Barca", the 162 Real Sociedad fans who come to the Camp Nou will not be able to wear the symbols of the "San Sebastian" club.

Sociedad coach Emanol Aguasil, in turn, considered it "very sad that a fan could not support his team outside his stadium."

Derby tickets

On the other hand, the few Rojiblancos fans who attend the Madrid derby at the Bernabéu will be able to wear Atlético shirts.

And the number of lucky people is only 334 out of more than 4 thousand who requested it.

This number aroused great resentment, although it is legal, as in the case of Barcelona.

In contrast to what happens in European competitions, in which the Confederation of the Game (UEFA) obliges the guests to reserve a share of tickets for the visiting fans, this regulation does not apply in the national championships, and the final decision is left to the club.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Atlético de Madrid (@atleticodemadrid)

After only 24 hours, knowing the low quota of tickets allocated to Atletico, the latter stipulated that Atletico fans obtain tickets through its official website.

Real reserves the right to prevent visiting fans from entering the stadium if tickets are purchased through other channels.

That is, Atletico fans who buy tickets in this way will not be able to go to the stadium in the clothes or symbols of their team, and the Merengue reserves the right to allow or deny them entry to the Bernabeu.

Faryal - unlike Barcelona - does not explicitly say that he will prevent entry to fans wearing an Atletico shirt or scarf, but it is understood that the only way to identify a fan is the colors he wears.

THEY'VE DONE IT.

Barcelona 2-3 Eintracht Frankfurt.

One of the greatest nights in Eintracht Frankfurt's history.

They've come to the Camp Nou and deservedly won.

pic.twitter.com/Ypn4r9DuWv

- Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) April 14, 2022

European competitions

And with the memory of the "invasion" of the Eintracht Frankfurt fans of the Camp Nou in the European League still fresh in the minds of the Barca administration and its fans, the question now arises about the European competitions that will return soon and how do the two La Liga giants deal with them?

The two matches against Barcelona against Manchester United in the European League (16 of next month) and Madrid against Liverpool in the Champions League (15 March).

UEFA obliges the owners of the land to reserve at least 5% of the capacity of the stands for the visiting fans.

United and Liverpool supporters are known to travel in huge numbers to support their teams.

In the rest of the King's Cup quarter-finals, Valencia will host - tonight - Athletic Bilbao, and Sevilla will face its host, Osasuna.