The unthinkable happened on Sunday when Argentina's biggest and most successful club River Plate were relegated to the second division for the first time in their 110-year history.
The drop came after a 1-1 draw with Belgrano in the second leg of their play-off on home soil after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Córdoba on Wednesday.
Fans in the 60,000 plus crowd at the Monumental went wild with rage, throwing objects on to the pitch and some tried to climb over perimeter fencing to storm on to the field.
The 3,000 Belgrano fans who had made the journey to the capital were unable to leave the stadium for two hours.
And it was another hour before players from both sides could do so, under protection of the stewards while police used high-power hoses against the rioting fans.
The violence soon spread to the streets outside the stadium, where the notorious barra brava hooligans set fire to bins while shop windows were also smashed
Local reports said 68 people were injured in the clashes, mainly with head wounds from stones thrown by the crowds.
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| River Plate fans react after their club relegated to the second division for the first time Photo: Reuters |
The drop came after a 1-1 draw with Belgrano in the second leg of their play-off on home soil after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Córdoba on Wednesday.
And violence broke out a minute before the match was even over.
Fans in the 60,000 plus crowd at the Monumental went wild with rage, throwing objects on to the pitch and some tried to climb over perimeter fencing to storm on to the field.
The 3,000 Belgrano fans who had made the journey to the capital were unable to leave the stadium for two hours.
And it was another hour before players from both sides could do so, under protection of the stewards while police used high-power hoses against the rioting fans.
The violence soon spread to the streets outside the stadium, where the notorious barra brava hooligans set fire to bins while shop windows were also smashed
Local reports said 68 people were injured in the clashes, mainly with head wounds from stones thrown by the crowds.
Related links:
Team
Also see:
