Not to be outdone by the Vancouver Canucks fans repeat riot of 2011, the River Plate soccer fans in Buenos Aires rioted again at Monumental Stadium. This latest moronic act came after the Argentine team tied Belgrano 1-1 leading to a demotion to a lower division.

The violence broke out just before the match was over with fans heaving objects at players. In deja vu mode from previous riots, the police responded by nailing the aggressors with high-powered water hoses. These fans are aggressive, some actually climbing the barbed wired fences that were put in place after the past riots. Rioters also set fire to stadium concession stands and ripped apart seats to use them as weapons (another proud custom there).

What happened to expressing yourself by blowing Vuvuzelas?

The violence spread outside the stadium where rioters were greeted by tear gas, rubber bullets and police attack dogs. People not familiar with the behavior of these fans who refer to themselves as “Los Borrachos del Tablon” may think the police response sounds too aggressive but watch this video from 2006, you will see it is justified to protect themselves:

With the latest report indicating more than 100 were injured in yesterday’s riot, including dozens of police officers, what is it going to take to put an end to these hooligans injuring and threatening the lives of police, players and other innocent fans when their team loses?

What does it tell you when law enforcement there knew to assign more than 2,000 riot police prior to the match?

Sports aren’t that important.

If there’s a guarantee of that kind of violence move the match to a neutral spot. The players wouldn’t mind since they themselves have been the main target of their fans recently.

These rioters both in Vancouver and at River Plate are not demonstrating for a cause or making a stance on an issue, they are sore losers who are continuing a trend of violence if their teams lose; doesn’t get any more shallow than that…and for that, these hooligans get our Bitch Slap of the Week.

Used with permission of the author.

Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.

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