Libertadores: Argentines ‘invade’ RJ, and racism worries – 11/01/2023 – Sport

By land and air, a battalion of Argentines dressed in “blue and gold” begins to travel to Rio de Janeiro for the Copa Libertadores final. On Saturday (4), Boca Juniors faces Fluminense at Maracanã in search of the title of biggest winner in the history of the competition — alongside Independiente, who already has seven cups.

Montages with a multitude of flags in front of the stadium or the Leblon hills flood social media in the neighboring country and foreshadow what is to come. The Argentines will only have 20,000 tickets reserved, but Eduardo Paes City Hall (PSD) expects the arrival of more than 100,000 fans, many of whom are already on their way to the city on planes, buses, cars and even on foot.

With them, however, also comes the fear of episodes of violence. Boca himself released a list of recommendations noting that “racist/xenophobic chants and gestures constitute a serious offense that can lead to up to five years in prison”, a crime that is not uncommon when the two countries face each other. He also advised to “avoid any type of provocation to the Brazilian people.”

On Friday (3), at 4pm, a “bandeiraço” of the team’s supporters is planned on Copacabana beach, near the Buenos Aires Kiosk, where Argentines used to gather during the 2014 World Cup. Until then, A Conmebol (South American Football Confederation) “fan zone” will also be operating on the sand, open since Monday (30).

On the date of the game, Fluminense fans will have a big screen in the Cinelândia square, while their rivals will have a structure in the Sapucaí sambadrome, both in the center, 2.5 km away. “You have to do an average with the brothers, who camped in Copacabana during the World Cup”, joked Paes, from Vasco.

The RJ Military Police did not respond to what the security scheme would be like. This Tuesday, the federal government announced that the Federal Highway Police and the National Force will reinforce policing in Rio during the weekend.

Tensions began to rise this Monday, when a group of Argentine fans were attacked by tricolors on Copacabana beach, according to one of them, who published a photo with his head bleeding. “They beat us. They stole my cell phone. There were 30 of us and they came with chairs to the beach to attack us”, wrote Pablo Moulia, with whom the Sheet couldn’t get in touch.

Images of a fan lying on the shore with an injured head also caused outrage in the neighboring country. When questioned, the Civil Police said that three men were taken to the tourism police station and charged with bodily harm, criminal association and attempted robbery. The government of Cláudio Castro (PL), responsible for the agents who responded to the incident, did not respond.

Threats from both sides on social media help to increase the pressure. “For a racist, it’s a punch in the mouth”, published a few days ago the organized fans Sobranada, from Fluminense, wearing colors that refer to the flags of Argentina and Boca. “If they want war, let’s give it,” replied Rafael Di Zeo, leader of La 12, the rival team’s largest organized fan base.

The tricolor group then replied, this time in Spanish: “All ordinary Boca fans, families, children, will be welcome in Rio. The 12 shitters, stay tuned,” he wrote, then releasing comments with emoticons of monkeys and bananas that he received in previous posts and, finally, an edited video of fan fights.

Even former player and senator Romário (PL-RJ) joined the controversy and was the subject of sports diaries in the neighboring country. “The one who should take it is Fluminense. F*ck Argentines, those sons of bitches. That’s it, and Boca will take it in the ass. I’ve been a Fluminense since I was born”, he stated in an interview with the newspaper O Globo, ironically, since He is a fan of America-RJ.

In the view of Fernando “Chino de Merlo”, 50, president of the Boca fans’ branch in the city of Merlo, in Greater Buenos Aires, these were isolated cases and should not be generalized. “We must arrive in peace. But if they look for us, they will find us”, warns him, who claims to be very nervous and anxious after almost a month of preparations, since Boca eliminated Palmeiras on penalties.

He will leave the Argentine capital with his young son this Wednesday (1st) along with the “Caravan of the West” on a trip that will last two days. There will be ten buses, which will join ten others as they pass through the border province of Missiones and Foz do Iguaçu (PR). Another large wave of collectives will also cross the border with Uruguaiana (RS), according to him.

“A lot of flights have already left, and this Wednesday a lot of people are arriving in Rio. By Friday, everyone is expected to be there”, he says, responding that the trip costs between 160 thousand and 230 thousand pesos (R$950 to R$1,400), and many will miss work. “We are in an economic situation where many cannot spend so much, but they do, out of love for the club and the shirt”, he is proud.

In fact, images of large groups “cheering” in chorus at airports and even inside planes are already beginning to spread. They are no more fanatical than Argentine Leandro Fortunato, who went viral after starting a journey of more than 2,600 km over the last 20 days to reach the final, after an apparent heartbreak. He arrived in Copacabana this Monday, with his guitar, and is already sunbathing.