Spanish Matador’s Death Is Further Proof That Bullfighting Must Be Banned

Spanish matador Iván Fandiño, 36, reportedly died from injuries sustained during a bullfight in south-western France this weekend. After appearing to slip on his cape, he was gored through the chest by the bull he was “fighting” and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. He’s the second Spanish matador to be killed during a bullfight in the last 12 months, after 29-year-old Víctor Barrio was fatally wounded on live television last July.

Fandiño’s pointless death is yet another reason why bullfighting should be banned immediately, as it highlights the dangers of participating in this barbaric “sport”. Of course, the true victims are always the bulls themselves, and the senseless torture and killing of these animals should be reason enough for any compassionate person to reject the cruel spectacle.

In a typical bullfight, the bull enters the arena and is approached by men on horseback, who drive lances into his back and neck. Then, more men enter on foot and proceed to taunt the wounded animal while plunging banderillas – bright sticks with a harpoon point on the end – into his back. When the bull has become weakened from blood loss, the matador appears and attempts finally to kill him with a sword. If the matador fails, an executioner is called in to stab the exhausted animal to death with a dagger.

There’s typically no way for the bull to win a fight – even if he kills the matador, he’ll still be slaughtered by the other bullfighters. In another gruesome tradition, the mother of the “victorious” bull is also killed in order to cut off the bloodline and make things easier for cowardly matadors in the future.

What You Can Do

Never attend or participate in bullfights or bull runs. Please also sign our petition to the Prime Minister of Spain asking him to ban this cruel blood sport once and for all.

Sign the petition

© Lisa Markulla