By Mark Baber
June 12 – Argentinean fans have been banned from attending away games for the next two matches following the death of Lanus football fan Daniel Jerez at the Clausura match between Estudiantes de La Plata and Lanus at the Ciudad de La Plata Stadium, near Buenos Aires, on Monday night
IN A short statement, the Argentine Football Association said: “The Argentine Football Association and the National Government have jointly decided that the next two Argentine Football dates are played without the assistance of the visiting public. This measure covers all categories of Argentine Soccer.”
The death of Daniel Jerez is currently under investigation by judicial authorities, but reports suggest he was killed by a rubber bullet fired at close range by police.
According to the account of a Adrian Russo, a friend of Jerez, he was remonstrating with police to stop shooting when he was hit.
At half time, news of the fan’s death reached the referee, who after consulting both clubs suspended the match.
According to media reports, fighting broke out between supporters and police before kick-off as ticketless fans attempted to enter the stadium and the fighting left another fan seriously injured.
Club Atletico Lanus has issued a statement expressing condolences to the family and loved ones of Jerez and condemning the “disproportionate and absurd repression” against their fans, whilst promising full cooperation with investigators in arriving at the truth of the facts and holding those responsible to account.
The regional Justice and Security Minister, Ricardo Casal, welcomed the suspension of away fans but as an interim measure, but asked that it be “extended permanently until non-violent conditions could be guaranteed.”
Casal also confirmed the withdrawal of rubber bullets and shotguns for use during operations in stadiums. Meanwhile, the government secretary of sports, Alejandro Rodriguez, confirmed that the dead man, Javier Jerez, had a criminal record and that, with more than a hundred witnesses, prosecutor Ana Medina would be defining the degree of responsibility of the police in firing the shot “in the coming hours”. Three police officers directly involved in the incident are being questioned.
Contact the writer of this story moc.l1734859075labto1734859075ofdlr1734859075owedi1734859075sni@r1734859075ebab.1734859075kram1734859075