The CA Osasuna Pamplona football club wants to change the formation responsible for maintaining order at its El Sadar stadium. According to Spanish media reports, the club is preparing to participate in court proceedings regarding incidents from the last match and is simultaneously holding talks with the regional government of Navarre. The goal is to replace the Spanish Policía Nacional with units of the regional Policía Foral, which are better integrated with the local community. The regional government itself has admitted it is considering such a step.
Club Enters Court Proceedings
CA Osasuna announced it will join the criminal proceedings as an aggrieved party in connection with the incidents that occurred at the El Sadar stadium on February 15, during the match against Real Sociedad. Fans entered the pitch at that time, causing an interruption in the match.
Pursuit of Formation Change
The club is openly pursuing the transfer of responsibility for maintaining order at the stadium to the regional Policía Foral de Navarra. Currently, this role is performed by the Spanish Policía Nacional. According to club sources, the Foral Police would supposedly provide greater safety and a better understanding of the local context.
Regional Government's Readiness
The regional government of Navarre, dominated by a left-wing and nationalist coalition, admitted it is open to considering such a change. However, it emphasized that the decision would require analysis and the establishment of details, including who would cover the additional costs associated with transforming the service.
CA Osasuna football club is taking a dual initiative in response to recent incidents at the El Sadar stadium. On one hand, the club has announced its formal participation in court proceedings concerning the events of February 15, when fans stormed the pitch during the derby with Real Sociedad, causing the match to be interrupted. On the other hand, as reported by Spanish media, Osasuna is making efforts to permanently change the formation responsible for security during its home matches. The club wants the role of public order police to be taken over by the regional Policía Foral de Navarra, replacing the Spanish Policía Nacional. The argument is allegedly the greater integration of local services with the fan community, which would supposedly lead to more effective and less confrontational crowd management. "The Foral Police know the environment better, are more involved in community life, and might be able to avoid certain tensions," explain sources close to the club. This initiative is being viewed favorably, albeit with reservations, by the regional government of Navarre. The regional government of Navarre confirmed it is open to considering such a solution. "This is not something that can be arranged overnight. It requires legal and operational analysis, as well as an assessment of the financial consequences," stated a government spokesperson, adding that any additional costs would have to be clearly defined and agreed upon. This readiness for talks fits into a broader political context. The regional authorities, of left-wing nationalist origin, have long sought to increase the powers of regional institutions at the expense of state structures, which in this case also applies to public order services. Autonomous communities in Spain, such as Navarre or the Basque Country, have broad powers, including their own police forces. The Foral Police in Navarre and the Ertzaintza in the Basque Country coexist with the nationwide Policía Nacional and Civil Guard, which sometimes leads to jurisdictional tensions, especially in matters of symbolic importance like security at football stadiums. The decision to change the formation at El Sadar could be seen as a precedent strengthening the position of autonomous police forces. However, the club itself emphasizes that the motivation is primarily to improve safety and atmosphere during sporting events, not politics. It is not yet known how the Spanish central authorities, to whom the Policía Nacional reports, would react to such an idea, nor what the formal implementation steps would look like.