Argentinian football in mourning. A few days after the appalling Indonesian tragedy, it was this time in the country of Lionel Messi that football led to death. A supporter of Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata died on the sidelines of the reception of Boca Juniors. “This person died of cardiac arrest”, said the Minister of Security of the province of Buenos Aires, Sergio Berni. The hospital where the victim was transported specified that it was a 57-year-old man, who died of cardio-respiratory arrest.
The clashes began outside the Juan Carmelo Zerillo stadium in La Plata, around 50 km south of Buenos Aires, where the Gimnasia team were hosting Boca Juniors. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse fans who tried to enter the already full stadium.
“The incidents spread inside. There were around 10,000 people around the stadium trying to get in, some with tickets, some without. Everyone could see that the stadium was completely full,” explained Eduardo Aparicio, the head of the agency for the prevention of violence in sport. “All of this is under investigation”and especially “the actions of the police”he added.
The match between Boca Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata was stopped in the 9th minute when the effects of tear gas arrived inside the stadium. “The air became unbreathable. The situation got out of control and there were no more guarantees of safety”, said the referee, Hernan Mastrangelo. Part of the public then invaded the lawn in search of fresh air, the gates of the stadium having been closed by the police to prevent any forced entry.
According to local media, several dozen spectators had to be taken to hospital due to the effects of the gases. A sports channel cameraman was also hit by a rubber bullet. The meeting was the most important of the 23rd day of the Argentine championship. It was the last chance for Gimnasia to stay in contention for the title, as Boca Juniors looked to move into top spot.
“What was going to be a party ends like this. What happened hurts us all, it’s terrible”, Boca Juniors technical director Hugo Ibarra told reporters.