La Liga files complaint over bottle-throwing incident at Comert and 'Pepelu is a rat' chants during Valencia derby
La Liga has reported multiple incidents from the heated Valencia derby at Ciutat, including a bottle striking Valencia's Eray Comert and repeated abusive chants aimed at former Levante player Pepelu.
Tempers flared and bottles flew as the Valencia derby descended into chaos, with La Liga now taking official action against multiple incidents at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium.
Bottle incident takes center stage
La Liga has officially filed complaints regarding a bottle thrown at Valencia’s Eray Comert following the derby against Levante, along with other objects hurled from the stands and repeated chants of “Pepelu is a rat” directed at the former Levante player.
The match official’s report details that approximately ten minutes after the final whistle, local fans near the tunnel in the Tribune section launched bottles with caps (which are prohibited in football stadiums) at visiting players entering the dressing rooms. One of these missiles struck a Valencia player – specifically Comert, who was being escorted from the pitch by a security member when bottles began raining down. He managed to kick one away but another struck him between his chin and shoulder.
What sparked the chaos
Interestingly, the La Liga report makes no mention of the provocative actions that triggered the fracas. The trouble began when Comert removed a corner flag and covered it with his Valencia shirt, waving it in celebration with the visiting supporters. This gesture prompted Levante players and staff to confront him, attempting to retrieve the flag which originally featured the home team’s colours.
The report does chronicle events chronologically, noting that two minutes before the bottle incident:
- Local fans near the away section (corner between Gol Alboraya and Grada Lateral) threw several water bottles toward that area
- This required National Police intervention
”Pepelu is a rat” chants
The match observer documented eight separate instances of “Pepelu is a rat” chants targeting the Valencia player:
- Two before kickoff (34 and 18 minutes prior)
- Six during the match (minutes 1, 20, 24, 37, 46, and 58 – the latter being when he was substituted)
The report specifies these chants were most prevalent in sectors 517 and 518 of Levante’s stadium.
Apologies all round
Following the match, Valencia collectively apologised for the post-match incidents and Comert’s provocations. César Tárrega spoke as the dressing room representative, manager Carlos Corberán apologised “on behalf of the club,” and Comert himself posted on social media: “Under no circumstances did I intend to humiliate Levante or their fans.”
Valencia ultimately decided not to file any complaint about the bottle incident involving their player, while Levante announced they were launching an investigation to identify those responsible for the aggression.
Proper derby day drama in Valencia then – handbags at dawn and a right old bottle job from some in the crowd. The authorities will have their work cut out sorting this one.