Argentina paves way for return of visiting fans after 12-year ban tried to curb stadium violence
The 12-year ban will be lifted in a test run when Lanús hosts Rosario Central in the second matchday of the top-flight Clausura tournament, Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia said at a press conference.
'It's a day that marks a before and after in our league,' Tapia said. 'It's the kind of soccer (with visitors) we all grew accustomed to since we were kids. We have to get back to that path. Clubs that are in a position to host visiting fans can do so.'
The federation banned visiting fans in the first-division tournament in 2013 after two incidents: the death of a Lanús fan when police tried to break up a clash with Estudiantes supporters; and the death of two Boca Juniors fans in a shootout between rival factions.
The ban was imposed first in the province of Buenos Aires, and the rest of the districts followed. While the measure sought to end stadium violence, it fell short, as more deaths subsequently occurred for disputes among the so-called 'barrabravas.'
The AFA announced that 6,500 fans of Rosario Central, a team from that city located 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, will be able to occupy the Lanús away section under a strict security protocol, which includes designated tickets so that fans attending are properly identified.
'The idea isn't to go back to what we had before because the visitors were kicked out for a reason,' Buenos Aires security minister Javier Alonso said. 'We have to eradicate the culture of violence. It's sad to see 10-year-olds singing about drugs or that someone needs to be killed. It has to be a family celebration, with flags and drums.'
For the time being, the measure will apply only to the province of Buenos Aires, although Tapia said that other provinces are willing to join the initiative.
The plan has raised questions. Sectors of the opposition to the Buenos Aires government warned that police officers cannot be assigned to guard visiting fans to the detriment of citizens concerned about a growing wave of insecurity.
The restriction on visiting fans only applied to professional league matches and other divisions in Argentina. They are allowed in international tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana.
'This is what football fans and society want. Many matches have been organized with two sets of fans, and that's why we decided to announce the start of the return of visiting fans,' Tapia said.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
16 minutes ago
- The Hindu
World Swimming Championships 2025: Ledecky pips McIntosh for 800m freestyle title; USA sets new world record
Katie Ledecky showed she is still the gold standard in the 800 metres freestyle after ending Summer McIntosh's bid for five individual titles while fending off Australian surprise package Lani Pallister at the world championships on Saturday. American Ledecky had to fight all the way in a thrilling three-way battle to secure her seventh world title in the event and 23rd overall in a time of 8:05.62 at the Singapore pool. With three gold medals in the bag and grinding through a huge programme, McIntosh mounted a brave challenge and took the lead with 100 metres to go as fans roared in the stands. But Ledecky found another gear to snatch back the lead then rode home with the gallant Pallister (8:05.98) pushing her to the finish. (L-R) Gold medallist Katie Ledecky of USA and silver medallist Summer McIntosh of Canada pose on the podium. | Photo Credit: AFP 'I kind of figured it was going to be more than just Summer,' said Ledecky. 'Definitely the fastest field in the 800 ever ... I'm happy I could come out on top.' McIntosh, who finished 1.67 seconds behind Ledecky, had hoped to match Michael Phelps's feat of winning five individual gold medals at a single world championships. But the 18-year-old Canadian can finish off a brilliant campaign with gold in the 400 individual medley (IM) on the final day on Sunday. Record-breaking relay While McIntosh may one day be held in the same esteem as nine-time Olympic gold medallist Ledecky, Australia's Kaylee McKeown has already cemented her place as the greatest backstroker in women's swimming. ALSO READ | United States breaks mixed 4x100m freestyle relay world record The only woman to win back-to-back Olympic 100m and 200m backstroke golds, McKeown completed another double in Singapore with an emphatic win in the 200m. Once again it was American Regan Smith looking to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian dominator clocked 2:03.33, the third fastest swim of all time. It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Olympics and again in the 100m in Singapore. Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago. | Photo Credit: AP Just like in Paris, McKeown's win came straight after compatriot Cameron McEvoy stormed to his second 50m freestyle title in 21.14 seconds, becoming the oldest Australian world champion at the age of 31. Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago. Leon Marchand and his 200m IM world record was one of the biggest headlines from the Singapore meet but another Frenchman grabbed the spotlight on Saturday. Maxime Grousset rocketed to his second 100m butterfly world title in 49.62, beating Swiss Noe Ponti and recording the third quickest swim of all-time in the event. Only American world record holder Caeleb Dressel (49.45) has gone faster. It was Grousset's second butterfly title in Singapore, having also beaten Ponti for the 50m on day two. Gretchen Walsh kept the U.S. team medal haul ticking upwards with a dominant victory in the 50m butterfly, adding to her 100m title in Singapore. Touching the wall in 24.83 seconds, Walsh was nearly half a second better than runner-up Alex Perkins, who set an Australian record of 25.31. There was more cheer for the United States as Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske combined to win the non-Olympic mixed 4x100m freestyle relay gold in a world record time of 3:18.83, shaving nearly half a second off Australia's mark from the event two years ago in Fukuoka (3:18.83). Marchand, the 'French Phelps', will look to add the 400m IM title to his 200m IM gold on the final day. | Photo Credit: Getty Images Apart from McIntosh's 400m IM title bid, there are seven other gold medals on offer in a packed programme on the final day. Marchand, the 'French Phelps', will look to add the 400m IM title to his 200m IM gold, while German iron man Florian Wellbrock will gun for the 1500m freestyle title to boost his bumper haul after sweeping the open water events.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘England, you can't even dismiss our No.9': Akash Deep's 66 ‘as good as a batter's tripe century'
Akash Deep, the batter, came out of the syllabus for England. When all the talk around was how soon they could get rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill in the morning session of Day 3 to make sure India didn't set them a big target in the fifth Test, Akash Deep, the nightwatchman, poured water into their plans by slamming his maiden Test fifty. India's Akash Deep celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the third day of the fifth cricket Test(AP) The right-arm pacer, who came out bat after India lost Sai Sudharsan right at the fag end of Day 2, got to his maiden Test fifty with a boundary from an inside edge off Gus Atkinson in the 38th over of India's second innings on Saturday. Akash Deep started his innings with a boundary on Friday and he started Day 3 exactly in the same manner. It took him just two balls to hoick Jacob Bethell for a boundary in the first over of the day's play and since then, there was no looking back. Understandably so, Akash Deep celebrated his half-century in grand style. There as fist bump amid fantastic reactions from the Indian dressing room. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had a rare smile on his face while captain Shubman Gill and experienced all-rounder signalled to take the helmet off. Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja celebrate Akash Deep's fifty 'You can't even dismiss our No.9': Akash Deep's fifty hailed Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar said the reaction of the Indian supporters at The Oval narrated a story. "Those smiles says it all and it's not only the smiles from the Dressing Room but even from the crowd because the crowd would be saying to the people who are sitting alongside them, those who are supporting the English team that you can't dismiss our number 9, number 10 and a rare smile from Gautam Gambhir's face as well," Bangar said on commentary. Former India pacer Varun Aaron said Akash Deep's knock was as good as a batter getting a triple century. "100%, the Night Watchman has done overtime and he has been paid in the form of a 50. The biggest payday when it comes to Akash Deep in his batting career was a Test 50. This is as big as a batsman scoring a triple hundred. The way Test teams celebrate their tail-enders' 50s is second to none," he said. Resuming at 75/2, with a modest 52-run lead, India extended their advantage to 166 by lunch, thanks to a gritty and confident 66 off 94 balls by Deep, laced with 12 boundaries. The right-arm pacer, who came in late on Day 3, displayed surprising composure and shot selection, becoming the first Indian nightwatchman since Amit Mishra in 2011—also at The Oval—to score a Test fifty. Jaiswal (unbeaten at lunch) continued his fine form, complementing Deep with a steady hand, while England faltered in the field, dropping four chances. Deep's innings ended just before lunch, bowled by Gus Atkinson, but not before scripting the 18th century partnership of the series—the most in any Test series since 2000.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Jasprit Bumrah set to miss Asia Cup after workload management in England Tests: Report
According to a BCCI official, the Indian team management is keen on keeping star pacer Jasprit Bumrah fresh for the home Test season that gets underway less than a week after the conclusion of the Asia Cup, which takes place from 9 to 28 September in the UAE. read more Jasprit Bumrah had played a key role in India's triumph in the T20 World Cup last year, India's last major assignment in the shortest format. AP After being rested for the fifth and final Test against England, Jasprit Bumrah faces the possibility of an extended period on the sidelines with the Indian pace spearhead likely to miss the Asia Cup in the UAE next month, as per BCCI sources. Bumrah played only three matches in the ongoing five-Test series in England, and according to sources quoted by news agency Press Trust of India, it's the same workload management that will force Bumrah to miss the continental event that will be . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Crucial WTC points at stake Bumrah, it has been learnt, is being kept fresh for the home Test season that gets underway less than a week after the conclusion of the Asia Cup with the first of two Tests against West Indies getting underway in Ahmedabad on 2 October. 'It will be a tricky call but Bumrah loves Test cricket and there are World Test Championship points at stake. As far as T20 is concerned, he can play the series against New Zealand in January, which will be a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup,' a BCCI source abreast with Indian selection process told PTI on conditions of anonymity. 'If Bumrah plays Asia Cup and suppose India plays the final, no way can he play against West Indies at Ahmedabad. Obviously the question arises, do you need Bumrah against West Indies or he plays Asia Cup after a month's break and plays the two Tests against South Africa. That call, Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir will have to take,' the source added. The 31-year-old pacer had finished with 14 wickets at an average of 26 in three Tests, featuring in the series opener at Headingley as well as in the third and fourth Tests at Lord's and Old Trafford. Bumrah was released from the India squad on Friday, a day after captain Shubman Gill confirmed the pacer was rested for the series finale at The Oval. Also Read | Oval Test: The Bumrah decision, the Kuldeep no-brainer and the Arshdeep call India, meanwhile, have been placed in the same group as arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asia Cup despite the two nations having engaged in a military conflict in May in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The Men in Blue, who were originally scheduled to host the event, are the defending champions in the ODI format and will be hoping to win their second T20 title next month. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
