Copa del Rey final in Seville sparks anger over street drinking and litter | OneFootball

Seville’s Copa del Rey final weekend drew complaints over street drinking and litter in the centre, Triana and the Alameda, as large numbers of Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad supporters gathered.

El Periódico Mediterráneo reports that more than 50,000 visiting fans arrived, with shops and supermarkets selling large volumes of canned beer, many empties left scattered during the build-up.

Residents said a lack of public toilets turned corners and walls into urinals, and the Alameda de Hércules again became a de facto drinking zone. The mood was largely friendly, but daylight revealed a degraded public realm.

Rubbish piled up too in streets such as Mateos Gago, where thousands of Real Sociedad fans met from Friday night. Tourists in peak season also faced overflowing bins and littered pavements.

Supporters of the event highlight the economic boost. The last six finals have been put at 260 million euros in direct impact, roughly 43 million per edition, and some weekends have cost up to 3,000 euros per person. Critics argued the Cup is policed more leniently than other major events.

The council ran an extraordinary clean-up with 320 workers, including 172 hired for the day, and 103 vehicles across La Cartuja’s environs and the centre. Plaza de San Francisco was washed and quickly restored.

Even so, policing was the heaviest in recent years despite official expectations of a quieter mobilisation, creating a sense of a city taken over. Road closures near the Barqueta bridge, Torneo and the old quarter caused long delays.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo