By David Gold
June 27 – With less than a week to go until the start of the Copa America, the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, which was set to host the tournament’s final on July 24, has been forced to shut as a result of violence following River Plate’s shock relegation to the Nacional B Division.
Prosecutor Gustavo Galante has ordered the closure as a result of concerns that the safety limit of 40,000 spectators allowed to pass through the turnstiles was exceeded yesterday by up to 20,000.
The investigation into the stadium, which is used as Argentina’s home ground for international matches, could last for as long as a month, which would threaten its ability to host the final, though it could also be done as quickly as in a week.
Authorities will also be concerned at the scale of the violence after River’s 3-1 aggregate defeat to Belgrano in a relegation play off.
More than 50 people were detained by police after violence, which left at least 43 people injured, according to World Soccer, and forced the game to be abandoned in its final minutes.
Up to 2,000 police officers were on duty in anticipation of trouble, and they were forced to use water cannons and rubber bullets to combat a fiery crowd.
River, who finished the regular Clausura season ninth in the 20-team league, faced the play-off because Argentine relegation is based on cumulative results over three years.
The irony of the relegation is that the cumulative three-year system is designed to prevent a large team such as River being relegated as a result of one poor season.
River are one of Argentina’s biggest clubs and the 33 times league champions had never previously been relegated.
Their past players include legendary Argentine internationals Daniel Passarella and Mario Kempes, and more recently the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Gonzalo Higuain and current national team captain Javier Mascherano.
Relegation also threatens the club financially, with huge debts set to be exacerbated by a drop in television income and sponsorship.
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