Buenos Aires, Feb 4 (EFE).- A clash between rival Argentina football fan groups claimed one more life on Sunday in the latest episode of violence plaguing the sport in the South American country,
The clash occurred during a confrontation between factions of the ‘barra brava’ (which means fierce group and generally refers to organized er groups of Latin American football clubs) before the Primera Nacional B match between Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza and Defensores de Belgrano.
According to the newspaper Los Andes, a Mendoza fan was fatally shot in the abdomen. His lifeless body remained on the street for several minutes, accompanied by his father, who suffered injuries from objects thrown during the altercation.
Despite a delayed kickoff, the match proceeded without further disruptions.
The club said that “given the already known facts, AFA (Argentine Football Association) has decided that only the match against Def. De Belgrano will continue, allowing entry only to those already present inside the stadium.”
The clash follows closely on the heels of a Chacarita Juniors fan’s death the previous day from a stab wound.
Fan violence remains a persistent challenge confronting Argentine football, casting a dark shadow over the sport in the Latin America.
Earlier a clash between fans, though not fatal, took place last weekend when River Plate’s ‘barra brava’ clashed with other ers ahead of the match against Argentinos Juniors.
At least 30 people were detained and later released but banned from entering a soccer field for the next four years. EFE
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