The supposed curtain raiser summer clasicos that provide revenue for clubs but also appetize fans for what they’ve been during the summer off season have provided perhaps more attention and drama than ever before this year. Unfortunately this was for anything but footballing reasons, instead two of the country’s biggest clasicos end disgracefully in scenes that wouldn’t be out of place in a UFC ring throwing Argentine football into its latest crisis.
Superclásico between River Plate and Boca Juniors ends with 5 players sent off
The first incident was unsurprisingly between River Plate and eternal rivals Boca Juniors where 5 players were red carded and River’s Jonny Maidana sparked a 40 man brawl between players and coaching staff after headbutting Carlos Tevez and then throwing his strike partner Andrés Chavez to the floor.
La Plata clásico
The Boca River incidents cast more shame on Argentine football by making headlines worldwide however it was Sundays La Plata clasico that has outshone the traditional superclasico in terms of violence. If Alvaro Perreira’s Sending off for kicking Facundo Oreja in the ear wouldn’t impress UFC enthusiasts then the subsequent behaviour of goalkeeper Mariano Andujar certainly would. Amongst a brawl where there were punches, kicks and elbows and head stomping the estudiantes goalkeeper Mariano Andujár engaged with half of the Gimnasia team taking punches from 3 or 4 different players while continuing to fight them single handily. Although his antics have made him some what of a cult hero for some, he like the majority of the country have been vocal in not condoning any of his actions nor the scenes that look likely to further scar Argentine football and detract even more focus away from the game itself.
Debate about violence in Argentine Football
The violence has created much debate in Argentina with some pointing with the embaressment to the reinforcement of negative but accurate stereotypes about football in the country while others have raised more profound questions about the violence of Argentina generally that is then channelled into football, these views forwarded by footballer turned philosopher Maxi Rodriguez. What is certain is that the banning of away fans from all stadia has done little to stem violence inside and outside of the football field
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