MEXICO CITY. The iconic Plaza Mexico stadium, once desolate and cold without the spectacle of bullfighting, now sees a young matador practicing his art with a red cape, evoking the excitement among fans and sparking dismay among animal rights groups.
In anticipation of bullfighting’s return to Mexico City, a determined matador faces a wheeled contraption with a bull’s head mounted on it. The traditional spectacle suffered a significant setback when a judge banned it in the city in June 2022. However, the recent decision by the country’s Supreme Court of Justice to overturn the ban has paved the way for the capital to host “fiesta brava” events once again.
Juan Esteban Arboleda Gómez, an aspiring bullfighter from Colombia known as Juan Gómez “Dynasty,” expressed his elation, stating, “To know that the dream is even closer pushes me further.” The lower court’s indefinite injunction had delayed the careers of many, and for them, the high court’s ruling last month brought relief and celebration.
No specific dates for the resumption of bullfights in Plaza Mexico have been announced yet, but the expected return has reignited concerns among animal rights activists. The hiatus resulted from a legal complaint by the organization Justicia Justa, which argued that bullfights subjected Mexico City residents to violence and animal cruelty.
Justicia Justa’s efforts to end bullfighting in Mexico align with a global movement against the controversial sport. Despite being practiced in most parts of the country, judicial measures still block bullfights in states like Sinaloa, Guerrero, Coahuila, Quintana Roo, and the city of Guadalajara.
Jorge Gaviño, a member of the Mexico City Congress and a vocal critic of bullfighting, considered the lifting of the court ban a setback for animal rights. He vowed to collaborate with other groups to present new appeals against the practice, stating, “Sooner or later, we’re going to achieve the thing we set out to do. This is irreversible.”
Globally, bullfighting involves the death of approximately 180,000 bulls each year, with even more suffering injuries in related events. While animal rights advocates condemn the practice, figures from the National Association of Breeders of Fighting Bulls in Mexico reveal that bullfighting supports 80,000 direct jobs and 146,000 indirect jobs, contributing around $400 million annually to the country’s economy.
Mexico City’s Plaza Mexico, considered the cathedral of Mexican bullfighting, holds a significant place in the industry. The recent Supreme Court ruling highlighted that the organization opposing bullfighting failed to prove “imminent and irreparable damage” caused by the practice, and that the ban restricted the rights of individuals connected to the industry.
As bullfighting resumes in the world’s largest bullfighting ring, the clash between tradition and animal welfare intensifies, with both sides passionately defending their stance on this age-old spectacle.
