A matador was critically injured on Wednesday in one of the most violent incidents in recent memory during a bullfight at Madrid’s iconic Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, with footage showing him impaled by a bull’s horn before being violently tossed across the sand. The attack on Paco Ureña, a veteran torero from Seville, unfolded in front of a stunned audience of thousands during the final act of a high-profile corrida—a spectacle that has drawn renewed scrutiny over safety protocols in Spain’s deeply traditional bullfighting culture.
According to witnesses and initial reports from the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, the bull, a 6-year-old Lidiado Bravo named Negro Bravo, displayed an unusually aggressive temperament. Ureña, who had been guiding the animal with his cape in a tercio de varas (the second act of the bullfight), was gored in the left thigh as the bull suddenly charged. The impact sent him crashing to the ground, where he lay motionless for several seconds before being dragged by the bull’s momentum into the ruedo (the central arena). Medical personnel rushed to the scene, and Ureña was evacuated by helicopter to Hospital La Paz in Madrid, where he underwent emergency surgery to remove the horn fragment and treat severe internal injuries.
The incident has reignited debates over the future of bullfighting in Spain, a practice that has faced declining public support in recent years amid rising animal rights activism and regional bans. The Comisión Nacional de Bienestar Animal (National Animal Welfare Commission) has launched an investigation into the safety measures at Las Ventas, though officials have not yet confirmed whether the bull’s behavior was predictable or if procedural failures contributed to the attack. In a statement, the Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación emphasized that all bullfights must comply with strict welfare regulations, including pre-fight veterinary assessments to identify aggressive animals.
Ureña, who has participated in over 100 bullfights since his debut in 2012, is known for his technical precision and ability to read bulls’ movements—a skill that failed him in this instance. His injury marks the third serious incident involving a matador in Spain this year, following a near-fatal goring in Valencia in February and a head injury in Seville last month. The Unión de Toreros, Spain’s matador association, has called for an urgent review of training protocols, particularly in handling bravo bulls with unpredictable temperaments.
Meanwhile, the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, one of the world’s most historic bullrings, has suspended all upcoming events pending the investigation. The arena’s director, José María Martín, declined to comment on the incident beyond confirming that emergency protocols were followed. The suspension comes as bullfighting faces mounting pressure from the European Union, which has signaled potential restrictions under new animal welfare directives expected to be finalized by 2025.
As of Thursday evening, Ureña’s condition remained stable but critical, with doctors warning that complications could arise in the coming days. The Diputación Provincial de Sevilla has offered financial support for his recovery, though no statement has been issued by Ureña himself or his family. The incident has left the bullfighting community in shock, with many questioning whether the sport can survive in its current form amid rising safety concerns and cultural shifts.
