He is a convinced and recognized bullfighting militant. She is married to Ester Arribas, fond of like him, and both are parents of two girls with bullfighting names, Verónica, 9 years old, and Lidia, about to turn 6. In the family hall hang three bull heads, and all the decoration elements are closely related to the fans of the whole family, including the small ones.
Roberto García Yuste (Madrid, 45 years old) left on January 25 his position as president of the El Toro Association of Madrid, after a decade of commitment at the head of a group of 200 enthusiasts excited about the integrity of the Bravo bull.
“I think mine is militancy, yes,” says García Yuste; “I go to sales since I was 7 years old, the bulls are part of my heart, and weird is the day that you do not read, see or speak of bulls. I consider myself, just like my wife, seasonal fan in Madrid, convinced that to know this party you have to go a lot to the square and listen to the veteran fans.”
He is an official of the Local Police in the Madrid town of Soto del Real, but says that his first vocation was that of bullfighter, although his dreams of glory derived in a practical fan that has rehearsed some crutches in front of a calf and actively participates in the popular celebrations.
“The greatest disgust of my presidential stage has been to verify the passage of the bullfighting sector, both of the company of Las Ventas and the Administrations”
But what he did not get dressed in light has reached it as a speaker of a demanding hobby.
“Our mission is based on three aspects that we have always considered fundamental,” says the already former president; “The demand, first of all, starting with ourselves, in the square, the communications, the gatherings, etc.; The claim, with banners, octavillas and our attitude in the laying; and independence with respect to the bullfights so as not to lose the freedom to express ourselves at every moment. And all this is summarized in the defense of the integrity of the show and the prominence of the protagonism of the Toro Bravo.”
Ask. Why have you decided to leave the presidency?
Answer. I was very clear. I said that I would go at the best moment of the association, and in life you have to know how to leave. The group enjoys economic stability today, has grown in number, and we have become a national reference element. And this has been possible thanks to an excellent board of directors, which I call ‘my gang’, which has been involved in the objectives with a lot of work and a strong commitment. In addition, the act of farewell has allowed me to live one of the happiest moments of my life for the love I received from all colleagues.
P. What has you learned in these 10 years?
R. I have experienced very good things and have suffered some disappointment. I have been aware that I had a privilege and responsibility position that has made me harder as an amateur and as a person. He has also forced me to evolve, to study and, above all, to listen; and, consequently, be critical, demanding and offer proposals for the sake of the Fiesta de los Bulls. The greatest disgust has been to verify the passage of the bullfighting sector. We write letters to official bullfighting and do not even answer us.
P. But you will recognize that the association is an annoying group for the company that manages the Plaza de Las Ventas, for the Community of Madrid and the City Council of the capital.
A. Yes, and it must be. Our mission is to be active defenders of the integrity of the Fiesta de los Toros, and for this we refer letters and request interviews from those responsible; But indifference is tremendous. Years ago Enrique López, then Minister of Presidency, Justice and Interior of Madrid, received and his attitude was chulesca and arrogant. He pointed out that we were only 200 fans in a place of more than 20,000 spectators and 16,000 subscribers. And on another occasion we maintained an interview with Carlos Núñez, then president of the union of breeders, and just told us to lift the foot of the accelerator and were not so critical of the farmers. And with the City Council, nothing.
P. But relations with President Isabel Díaz Ayuso are better …
R. The president has answered us on occasion, but always with On top And he reminds us that there are many full in the square and that his government granted subsidies to the farmers on the occasion of the pandemic. By the way, that the rocks and bullfighting associations received aid for activities that the community has suppressed to derive them to the Toro de Lidia Foundation.
P. However, the businessman Rafael García Garrido has participated twice in the gatherings organized by the El Toro de Madrid Association …
R. This company, Plaza 1, does not have a close treatment or listen to the fan, unlike other times, with the Lozano brothers or the Choperitas, for example, that before starting the year they brought together representatives of the fans, attended the proposals and explained their projects. García Garrido offers to talk to us because what he does not like are letters, which can read them all, neither banners nor protests in the square.
“As in other laid, there are fans who sit in 7 and have no idea of bulls”
P. Protests and banners are many in laying 7, and the general public relates them to the members of the El Toro Association.
R. There was born our association in 1996, and there we followed many, but there are members of El Toro in the other laying of the square. Some banners are ours and others. Sometimes they benefit us and sometimes harm us. I think, in general, there is a lack of pedagogy, especially among younger fans.
P. There are many fans of the laying 7 and 8 that are not part of the association.
R. Yes, and many who sit on those lying and have no idea. As in other areas of the square, there are good and bad fans.
P. But not a few times all you intransigent …
R. We are demanding, but not uncompromising. The 7 demonstrates a sensitivity that other lying lacks. It does not guide us for the mood of bursting a celebration, but we do manifest ourselves so that the square is respected, which is the fundamental object of our claims. Sales must continue to be the most demanding square because it is the mirror in which all the others look at.
Q. By the way, do you have a favorite bullfighter?
A. I am a supporter of the one who does it when he does. I can be very hard with a figure, but if one day I really though, I have no inconvenience in applauding him.
(From now on, this bullfighting blog will be published biweekly).