A football fan was killed and another badly injured during fighting between hooligan "barrabravas" and riot police before an Argentine first division match in Buenos Aires on Monday, according to Ampuero & Gowar of REUTERS. Argentine First Division side Estudiantes' game with title challengers Lanus was "abandoned at halftime after news of the death reached officials at the Ciudad de La Plata stadium in the capital of Buenos Aires province." Estudiantes President Enrique Lombardi said, "The police reported a (Lanus) supporter had died and in the face of this situation it was necessary to suspend the match. It was a unanimous decision by both clubs... It was for humanitarian reasons." It was the "second match abandoned in three days after Saturday's game at Velez Sarsfield was marred by trouble from fans of visiting side All Boys." Estudiantes coach Mauricio Pellegrino said, "This violence doesn't come from football, it's a social problem. Football reflects the violence in society" (REUTERS, 6/11). In London, Charles Reynolds wrote "the dark shadow of violence, that has plagued Argentine football for so long, descended once again." The man killed was 42-year-old Daniel Jerez, who "died from a gunshot wound [from a rubber bullet fired at point-blank range] after being taken to the local Gonnet hospital." Argentina Minister for Justice & Security Ricardo Casal "has ordered the suspension and arrest of three police officers in connection with the fatal incident" (DAILY MAIL, 6/11).
CASAL RESPONDS: CLARIN reported Casal announced Monday that "visiting fans will not be allowed at football games and the police will no longer use rubber bullets at sporting events." Casal: "This is over. In Buenos Aires there will not be any more visitors at any games until the Argentine FA and the APREVIDE (Prevention of Violence in Sports Agency) guarantee us that there will be no more violence at football stadiums" (CLARIN, 6/11).
