Chinese School - No end in sight to Argentine football violence

Sports / Feature and Column

No end in sight to Argentine football violence
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-10-03 15:23

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 3 - There is probably nothing in the sporting world
which can compare to the crowd at an Argentine football match.

The flags, the firecrackers and non-stop chanting make the atmosphere at
even Europe's most intimidating venues -- such as Galatasaray's "Hell" in
Istanbul -- look like a vicar's tea party in comparison.

With masses of standing fans crammed behind towering fences topped with
barbed wire, most Argentine stadiums resemble Europe from the 1970s and
1980s, before the advent of all-seater stadiums.

The fervour and fanaticism come with a high price, however, and Argentine
domestic football is among the most violent in the world.

Last weekend's action was fairly typical as two first division games were
interrupted by crowd violence and one in the third division was suspended
when a firecracker temporarily deafened the visiting coach.

The season is only nine weeks old and has already seen two first division
games abandoned because of crowd violence and one because of alleged
threats to the referee.

One week into the season, a riot forced the suspension of Godoy Cruz's
game at home to Arsenal at the Malvinas Argentinas stadium in Mendoza, a
city usually associated with fine wines and snow-capped Andean peaks
rather than football hooligans.

It should have been an afternoon of celebration as Godoy Cruz, in the top
flight for the first time in their 85-year history, played their debut
home match in the first division.

Yet the game lasted just 17 minutes before the referee stopped play as
fans clashed with riot police on the terraces and tear gas blew across
the field.

Godoy Cruz's so-called barras bravas -- organised groups of hardcore
supporters -- were furious after the home club refused their demands for
free transport to all games, hundreds of free tickets per match and
donations from the players' wages.

DEATH THREATS

River Plate's barras were suspecting of being involved one week later
when players' cars were vandalised after the team had lost 3-2 to Racing
Club.

The following day, club president Jose Maria Aguilar said he had received
death threats but immediately played them down.

"Sadly, when you're involved in this type of activity the threats became
a habitual companion," he said.

On September 10, referee Daniel Gimenez suspended Gimnasia La Plata's
game at home to Boca Juniors, saying the president of the host team had
threatened him in the dressing room.

Gimnasia president Juan Jose Munoz admitted talking to Gimenez but denied
making threats, though he has since gone on leave until the Argentina
Football Association (AFA) decide what action to take.

The following week, Colon's match at home to Velez Sarsfield was
abandoned before halftime when a linesman was hit by a cigarette lighter
thrown from the crowd.

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