Athletic Club’s most vocal supporter group, La Grada de Animación, has issued a dual statement ahead of Tuesday’s La Liga clash against Osasuna at San Mamés, criticizing club president Jon Uriarte while urging fans to back the team in what they describe as a crucial match for the season.
The collective, known officially as Iñigo Cabacas Herri Harmaila (ICHH), published a message through its social media channels on Monday that combines a call for vocal support with pointed criticism of the club’s current direction under Uriarte’s leadership.
According to the group’s statement, verified through multiple local Bilbao-based sources, ICHH acknowledged the growing divide between the club and its supporters while emphasizing that now is the time to demonstrate unity.
“A pesar de que mucha gente piense lo contrario, en estos momentos es cuando hay que demostrar que somos diferentes,” the group stated, translating to “Despite what many may think, now is the moment to present that we are different.”
The communique specifically urged fans to “dejarnos las gargantas y arropar al equipo” – to give their all vocally in support of the team ahead of the match against Osasuna.
ICHH framed this support as essential to the team’s performance, stating: “Cuando la grada se convierte en el pulmón del equipo somos más fuertes,” meaning “When the stand becomes the team’s lungs, we are stronger.”
However, the group did not shy away from expressing dissatisfaction with club management, directly linking their concerns to the team’s recent struggles on the pitch.
“No ha sido la temporada que hubiéramos deseado. No estamos en el lugar esperado y, lo decimos de manera clara: no se han cumplido los sueños que teníamos a principio de temporada todos y todas las athleticzales,” ICHH said in the opening lines of their statement, acknowledging that the season has fallen short of expectations.
The collective outlined specific grievances with Uriarte’s administration, citing what they describe as a growing distance between the club and its fanbase.
“Es notorio que la distancia entre el club y los aficionados es cada vez más grande,” the group declared, a sentiment echoed across multiple verified sources including local Bilbao outlets.
ICHH identified several factors contributing to this perceived estrangement, including the Gazte Abono season ticket model, what they describe as the privatization of spaces within San Mamés stadium, high ticket prices, insufficient memorialization of Iñigo Cabacas (after whom the group is partially named), the criminalization of certain fan sections, and a perceived gap between players, and supporters.
The group connected these off-field issues directly to Athletic’s performance, stating: “Son dos caras de la misma tendencia,” suggesting that the club’s management approach and its sporting results stem from the same underlying problem.
Despite their criticism, ICHH emphasized that their call for support remains unconditional for the upcoming match.
“Pedimos dejarse la el alma ante Osasuna,” the group urged, asking fans to leave their souls on the terrace in support of the team.
The Athletic-Osasuna match has taken on added significance in recent weeks, with both teams fighting for different objectives in the final stretch of the La Liga season.
For Athletic, the game represents a push toward securing a European competition spot via the UEFA Conference League pathway, while Osasuna continues its battle to avoid relegation.
The fixture follows a recent defeat to Villarreal that saw Athletic’s players confronted by whistles from sections of the San Mamés crowd, highlighting the current tension between the team and portions of its support base.
In response to that match, club officials including coach Ernesto Valverde and captain Yuri Berchiche had publicly appealed for unity, urging supporters to rally behind the team during this critical phase of the season.
The club had also announced reduced ticket prices for the Osasuna match in an apparent effort to boost attendance and atmosphere at San Mamés.
Meanwhile, another supporter group, Herri Norte, has maintained its ongoing campaign against Uriarte’s presidency, adding to the pressure on the club’s leadership.
Uriarte was re-elected as Athletic Club president on Saturday without opposition, a result that ICHH referenced in their statement as part of the context for their renewed critique.
The ICHH communique represents one of the most explicit public challenges to Uriarte’s leadership since his re-election, balancing criticism with a pragmatic call for matchday support that reflects the complex relationship between Athletic Club and its most passionate supporters.
As both teams prepare for Tuesday’s encounter, the atmosphere at San Mamés is expected to reflect this duality – with vocal backing for the team on the pitch likely to coexist with continued expressions of discontent toward club management from certain sections of the ground.
The match kicks off at 19:00 local time (17:00 UTC) and will be broadcast internationally through La Liga’s official partners.
For continued updates on Athletic Club and La Liga developments, follow trusted sports news sources and the club’s official channels.
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