SD Eibar expresses its regret at the incidents surrounding the removal of several inappropriately positioned supporters' groups' banners
The club offers its apologies to the rest of its supporters, who were forced to witness these deplorable events
SD Eibar expresses its regret at the incidents which took place at the beginning of tonight's game which saw members of the stadium security team forced to remove banners owned by several of the club's supporters' groups. All of the official supporters' clubs had been warned about the situation, and following several meetings and many conversations, the club informed the groups that none of their banners should cover the advertising hoardings.
Following almost two months of meetings and open exchanges between the club and supporters' groups aimed at finding a solution, none of the supporters' clubs met the requests made by just two groups (Gazte Armagina and Eskozia La Brava), with the rest of the clubs showing an understanding of the current situation regarding the East Stand.
During the previous home game (SD Eibar v Atlético Madrid), the club informed the groups in question about the inappropriate positioning of their banners and a warning was issued that these should be removed prior to the Copa del Rey fixture.
During the course of this week, the banners were removed and returned to the supporters' groups, yet at the beginning of the game they were once again on display, covering the advertising of one of the club's main sponsors, causing the security team to intervene and remove them.
The supporters' groups, who had prepared chants and banners in protest, left their seats in the stands.
Several minutes after the incident, the members of the groups ultimately returned to their seats.
The club wishes to apologise to the rest of its supporters, who had to witness these events, and expresses its desire to find a solution, which it maintains will always come about through open exchange. The solution will seek to improve what historically has been an excellent relationship between the club and the two supporters' groups in question. The club wishes to offer a reminder that the advertising around the side of the pitch is the result of contract agreements signed with organisations and businesses, which earn the club revenue, and that not offering the brands the correct levels of coverage represents an infringement of the contracts in place.