Bullfighting Safety Concerns
Bull Breaches Barriers in Murcia While Power Outage Causes Injury Near Madrid
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The bullfighter involved in the Murcia incident was Portuguese rejoneador Duarte Fernandes. He finished Malacara with a killing lance, known as a rejon de muerte, followed by a short sword; spectators sought an ear trophy for Fernandes, but the presiding judge denied it and awarded him an ovation instead.
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The Murcia plaza’s official report described Malacara as the sixth and final bull of a mounted bullfight that closed the Murcia Bullfighting Fair, and identified the Los Espartales ranch as the bull’s origin.
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In the separate incident near Madrid, performer Sergio Reguera said the arena had suffered four power outages and argued that the festivities should have been stopped: “We can’t wait until a bullfighter is injured to find a solution. Safety must come first, before an accident happens, not after.”
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Bullfighting outlet Elite Bous criticized organizers for allowing the competition to continue during the outages, warning that the injury was “just an elbow” and that a more serious outcome could have occurred. The report also notes that a 19-year-old recortadore, Fran Gonzalez, was killed during a Spanish competition in 2019.
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The Murcia incident came amid other recent cases of bulls reaching spectators: the New York Post reported that a fan suffered a fractured rib after a bull jumped into the stands in Cadreita the previous year, while matador Morante de la Puebla was gored during a July performance in Seville.
A 508-kilogram bull named Malacara breached safety barriers twice during a bullfighting event in Murcia, Spain, on September 20, nearly reaching front-row spectators before a second barrier stopped it. Wide Open Country reported that the six-year-old bull, from Los Espartales ranch, was eventually returned to the ring and killed according to tradition, with no injuries reported. The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns at Spanish bullfighting arenas, where multiple barrier breaches and arena failures have endangered both performers and crowds.
Separately, near Madrid, performer Sergio Reguera injured his arm while escaping a charging bull after a power outage left the arena dark. Elite Bous reported that the venue suffered four electrical failures during the event, prompting Reguera to demand that organizers stop competitions until safety systems are fixed. The two incidents underscore escalating risks at Spanish bullfighting venues.
Portuguese Bullfighter Faces Crowd After Malacara Escapes
Portuguese rejoneador Duarte Fernandes was performing the final mounted bullfight of Murcia's annual fair when Malacara breached the first barrier and charged toward spectators. Fernandes finished the bull with a rejon de muerte — a specialized killing lance — followed by a short sword. Spectators called for an ear trophy, a traditional award for skilled performances, but the presiding judge denied it and awarded Fernandes an ovation instead. Fox News documented the escape and the crowd's reaction.
Power Outages Force Safety Halt Near Madrid Arena
The Madrid-area incident revealed dangerous conditions when electrical failures darkened the arena during Reguera's performance. The arena suffered four power outages total, forcing staff to distract the charging bull with flags while Reguera escaped. Reguera argued the event should have been canceled: "We can't wait until a bullfighter is injured to find a solution. Safety must come first, before an accident happens, not after." Elite Bous warned that organizers ignored repeated warnings.
Spanish Bullfighting Events Show Escalating Barrier Breaches
Malacara's escape in Murcia is part of a troubling pattern. The Herald Sun reported that a spectator suffered a fractured rib after a bull jumped into stands in Cadreita the previous year. Matador Morante de la Puebla was gored during a July performance in Seville. A 19-year-old recortadore, Fran Gonzalez, was killed during a Spanish competition in 2019, underscoring how breaches can turn fatal. The Chronicle and Cairns Post both covered the Murcia incident as part of broader safety failures.
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