Derby matches across the world always evoke the strongest of feelings and emotions on match day. Passionate fans turn out dressed in their team’s colours, often waving scarves or banners to show their appreciation as the players take to the pitch. Boca Juniors versus River Plate is one of the biggest rivalries in world football and the city of Buenos Aires is transformed on derby day as thousands of Argentines make their way to the stadium. Most are content to sing and chant with their friends and family whilst enjoying the action on show, but there are those who go too far and end up spoiling the occasion.
Barras Bravas is the name given to the hard-core Argentine fans that can always be found following their team. They play an important role in terms of organising and co-ordinating the clubs fans during a match and will often lead in the singing and insulting of opposition players, teams and fans. Many of these ‘ultras’ control the sale of merchandise and parking spaces on a match day, with the top guys even receiving money directly from the club itself when players are sold. This is done by the club as they are afraid of what might happen if they don’t keep them on board; organised gangs that they are, they could potentially disrupt games or cause violence to flare, such is their power.
Unfortunately, this is exactly what happened during the most recent Superclasico only last week, where Boca fans climbed the fences that separate the supporters from the pitch. Flares were thrown at the players, fireworks were set off and the match had to be suspended twice because of the behaviour of some so called ‘fans’. Whilst no-one would question the fantastic atmosphere that these groups can generate inside the stadium, including the players themselves who often say that it is like having a twelfth man on your side, there is a growing sense of uneasiness that they are becoming too strong and too violent, with no-one to hold them back. What do you think should be done to prevent this hooliganism, or do you think that the issues are being exaggerated and that there is no need for the authorities to get involved?