Football fans have sparked fury in Sevilla after leaving parts of the city centre looking like a dumping ground before the Copa del Rey final.
The video, shared by local anti-tourism group Sevilla Se Muere, shows the iconic Alameda de Hercules strewn with rubbish – including beer cans, plastic bottles, food waste and overturned furniture – as groups of supporters in red-and-white shirts gather nearby.
Tables are left piled high with empty drinks, chairs scattered across the pavement and bins appear to have been ignored entirely, with litter covering large stretches of the square.
‘What a disgrace’
The scenes have triggered a wave of anger online, with locals accusing visiting fans of showing a complete lack of respect for the city.
One user fumed: ‘What a disgrace! More police presence and more education for those who come to visit!’
Another added bluntly: ‘What pigs!’, while others called out the wider impact on residents living in the centre.
Residents hit out
Frustration has also been directed at local authorities, with some claiming Sevilla is being ‘sold off’ for major events at the expense of those who live there.
One comment read: ‘Mr. Mayor, keep selling the city to the highest bidder… I hope the residents remember this in the elections.’
Others questioned whether the economic boost of hosting such events is worth the disruption.
‘Who benefits from this? Not the people of Sevilla,’ wrote one user, while another pointed out the contradiction: ‘With all the money they leave behind, the mayor could invest more in cleaning.’
Not everyone agrees
Some voices struck a more measured tone, arguing that large-scale events inevitably come with mess and that the clean-up operation is part of the cycle.
One commenter noted: ‘It’s the same at festivals… then the cleaning crews come and sort it out.’
Another added that with thousands of visitors, infrastructure like bins can quickly become overwhelmed.
The backlash highlights rising tensions in Sevilla over mass tourism and major events, with groups like Sevilla Se Muere increasingly vocal about the strain on public spaces.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
