By David Gold
August 22 – A day after their defeat to fierce local rivals Racing Club, Argentine side Independiente’s offices were attacked in two separate incidents.
A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the offices (pictured top), before vandals broke into their stadium, stealing computers which contained information pertaining to hooligans the club are in the process of trying to ban.
Argentine football has a historic problem with barra bravas, fan groups like European ultras whose size and support for their clubs gives them significant political influence.
The country has the largest and strongest organised supporter groups in the world, who will often attempt to exert control over club policies.
They also use their size and power to make money through illegal rackets, money laundering and other unseemly activities through violence if necessary.
Independiente’s barra brava, La barra del Rojo, is one of the most notorious in Argentina and the club blamed fans for the attacks after the 2-0 defeat to Buenos Aires rivals Racing.
“We are in a battle,” Independiente President Javier Cantero (pictured below) said.
“For these people I bring bad news…we will not bow down easily.
“If they think with this they will avoid being banned from entry they are mistaken, with this we will increase it.”
The defeat to Racing meant Independiente are in 16th place in the 20-team Argentine league.
Worse than that is that Argentine football operates a system of promotion and relegation decided by results calculated over the previous three seasons.
At present, Independiente are bottom of the combined table for the last three years, meaning they are at a real risk of relegation, a fate that fellow Buenos Aires giants River Plate suffered last year.
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