Spain braces for hooligans ahead of South American ‘Superclasico’
MADRID: Spanish authorities are expecting between 400 and 500 potentially violent fans for Sunday’s Copa Libertadores inal between River Plateandbocajuniorswhichwasmoved to Madrid after trouble in Argentina.
Four thousand security personnel, between police and private forces, will beondutywatchingfortroublemakers at Sunday’s game between the Argentine arch-rivals at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
After a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the South American club final, the return game was originally scheduled for Nov. 24 at River’s Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
But it was postponed twice then moved 10,000kms (6,000 miles) to the Spanish capital after fans ambushed Boca’s team bus on arrival, injuring several players.
“Police are working closely with Argentine forces. There are a group of between 400 and 500 people who are especially violent,” local government delegate Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes told a news conference on Friday.
“We are working on establishing maximum security at the airport, the roads, bus stations and metro stations to detect violent people and those who have criminal records.”
One well-known Boca Juniors hooligan was deported from Madrid’s international airport on Wednesday, though the leader of the team’s most hard core gang has been cleared to travel.
The clubs have been given 25,000 tickets each: 20,000 for fans in Europe and 5,000 for supporters crossing the Atlantic for the ‘Superclasico’ between Argentina’s biggest clubs.
Argentina’s largest diaspora is in Spain, 250,000 people.
Boca forward Carlos Tevez said Spain was right to apply a zero tolerance policy to violence though he believed this game would go ahead without major incident.
“It’s important Spain are making an example of the ‘barra bravas’ (gangs) and are cracking down,” he told reporters at Boca’s base at the Spanish national team’s headquarters. “I think people are smart, they know they can’t cause trouble here and everythingshouldhappenpeacefully. It’s important for everyone involved to know that while it is a final, of course, it is a football match.”
Police will seek to keep rival fans apart and will close Paseo de la Castellana, a main road from the city centre to the stadium, Madrid official Rodriguez said.
‘DEATH THREATS’
River Plate president Rodolfo D’onofrioclaimshehasreceiveddeath threats from hundreds of Boca Juniors fans such is the intensity of the rivalry between the two Argentinian clubs.
River and Boca will play the second leg of their Libertadores Cup final at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Sunday after it was postponed last month following an attack by River fans on the Boca team bus.
CONMEBOL, South America’s football federation, moved the game from Argentina to Spain amid fears of further fan violence.
Although exposed to intense scrutiny from fans of his own club, D’onofrio said he has already received deaththreatsfromfansoftheirbiggest rivals. “You need to have adequate security,” D’onofrio told El Pais on Friday.
“If I go out in the street and say I don’t want to attend games at our stadium anymore, the River ultras will send death threats to me, my daughter, my wife and all my family.
“It’s happening to me now. I have 200 or 250 Boca fans who say they’re going to kill me.”
A traditionally highly-charged Boca v River fixture has been magnified by the fact they are meeting in the final of the Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of the Champions League, for the first time.
But the fact South America’s most prestigous club prize will be decided abroad, and in Spain, has been perceived as a great opportunity missed.
CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez has described the situation as an “embarrassment” and a “disgrace”.
“Itwillberememberedasashame,” D’onofrio said. “The tremendous shame of Argentine football.”