DEFENSA Y JUSTICIA
The Copa Libertadores is set for a new addition next year: a giant inflatable falcon
It’s official: Argentina’s got talons.
Many odd things have happened in the 59-year history of the Copa Libertadores, but what it’s always been missing is a player tunnel with a bloody great falcon sat on top of it.
Thankfully, that’s set to change next year, courtesy of the Argentine side Defensa y Justicia. The name translates into English as ‘Defence and Justice’, so FFT likes to believe their back four is made up of Paolo Montero, Julian Dicks, Brian Kilcline and Kevin Muscat, meting out two-footed justice to anyone who dares approach their penalty area.
Before they’ve even got that far, however, visiting players have to navigate the bizarre tunnel at the Estadio Norberto Tomaghello, which features a 20-foot inflatable bird of prey swooping – well, more like squatting – from above.
That’s because Defensa are known as the Falcon of Varela. They’re based in the city of Florencio Varela, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, and gained their nickname from the local Falcon bus line, once owned by the club president.
The club were founded in 1935 but only bothered to join the Argentine FA in 1977. After rising up through the leagues, they reached the top tier in 2014 and came within a whisker of winning their first Primera Division title this year.
Coached by Sebastian Beccacece, Jorge Sampaoli’s former assistant with Argentina, Defensa had gone unbeaten until the final six games of the season, aided – appropriately enough – by a solid defence; indeed, 21-year-old Lisandro Martinez has since earned a move to Ajax. They stumbled during the run-in, allowing Racing to eventually seal top spot, but fear not: 2nd was still enough to secure Defensa a Copa Libertadores place for the very first time.
Don’t mess with their fans, though. One was given 15 years in jail for killing a political activist back in 2013, while another received a similar sentence for murder during a fight for control over the club’s ultras group.
On the pitch, Defensa’s progress meant they were ranked the 11th-best team on the planet this February according to the Football World Rankings, based on results over the previous 12 months. Liverpool were 12th, with Manchester City 17th. If only City had an inflatable falcon, eh?