The shameful return of a bullfighting "hero"

I am sure everyone will want to join me in a massive hip hip hooray.

Spain welcomed back a returning hero at the weekend, a symbol of national pride and model of bravery.

Matador Juan José Padilla, who lost his eye in a horrific goring accident in the bullring, made a dramatic return sporting his now trademark eyepatch, a permanent "war wound" and testament to his admirable courage.

He has risked life and limb fighting bulls and has almost been killed several times.


Putting his own safety on the line to preserve the honour of Spain's national sport by mutilating  and killing  an animal for the entertainment a bloodthirsty  crowd.

In his last stand off in the ring he was blinded in one eye in the name of tradition and pride, a true sacrifice,  a real credit to his country.

Ok, I can’t keep it up, of course this man is no hero, at least not in my eyes.

I can’t view anyone who takes pleasure in harming animals in the name of entertainment with anything but  disgust.

Bullfighting is one of the worst forms of animal abuse, and rather than swelling with national pride, the Spanish authorities should take a long hard look at their endorsement of this  abhorrent practice.

I realise I am opening myself up to criticism, there are those who believe Padilla was tragically injured and thankfully survived, after all a human life is more important than a bull's.

Sorry, I disagree. You jump into a ring with a terrified animal, torment it in front of a jeering crowd, plunge spears into its back and dance round waving a cape to whip it up into a frenzy, then you take your chances mate.

If I were to take sides it would not be yours, gratuitous animal cruelty is up there with  the sickest and most evil crimes on the planet.

Forgive me sir, if I have no sympathy whatsoever for your injuries, not a shred, my sorrow lies fully with the animals you abuse.

There are those who say this is Spain’s business, their tradition, and nothing for us to go poking our noses into.

I disagree with that too. Any form of cruelty; children, adults or animals is everyone’s business, and responsibility to stand up against.

Bullfighting is nothing short of cruelty, obviously the idiots who take part or  watch it have no conscience, but those of us who oppose taking pleasure in harming animals are fully within our rights to voice our opinions, Spanish or not.

Let’s take a look at what happens during a bullfight.

In the traditional “corrida”, three matadors with six assistants each fight two bulls.

The animal is let into the ring and taunted by the matador who waves the cape to provoke anger.

One of the assistants approaches on horseback and stabs it in the mound of muscle on its neck, weakening it and causing loss of blood.

The other assistants join in and continue sticking sharp, barbed sticks into the bull’s shoulders to further weaken and distress it.

In the final stage the matador taunts the bull again, this time with the famous red cape, the idea is to anger, frustrate and further exhaust it.

He plunges the final spear between the shoulder blades to pierce the heart or aorta of the animal.

Much applause, and he is hailed a brave hero for killing the bull and winning the fight, and apparently bestowing honour upon the bull. Sorry if I disagree.


Padilla, 38, now dubbed “The Pirate” due to hie eye patch once again risked life and limb in the bullring this weekend.

And the nation welcomed him back as one of their most revered citizens. My opinion - he has earned a dispicable accolade which couldn't be further displaced from heroism.

Apparently he had little trouble killing his first bull before dedicating the second beast to his  father, who embraced his son after the kill. 

Padilla was awarded one ear for each of his two kills. 

The maximum accolade a matador can achieve is two ears and a tail for each bull slain.

Asked why he returned to the ring he said: “To win, to triumph, to be a better man."

The country’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is apparently an avid fan of bullfighting and has pushed for national television networks to start showing fights again.

Shame on you.