Nothing dulls the senses and dampens enthusiasm for a forthcoming campaign quite like an insipid pre-season friendly the flip side being a humiliating and confidence shattering defeat, Newcastle United's 6-1 defeat at Leyton Orient springs to mind.
San Lorenzo's 'friendly' against Uruguayan amateur side Atlético El General last Thursday was anything but standard fare. Ciclón striker Gonzalo Bergessio took fighting for the cause all too literally following a tussle with Uruguayan defender Gusmán Elizarzú - punches were thrown mainly by Bergessio who used his not inconsiderable bulk to great effect (View here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoA76V09LCg). Rumours that Elizarzú had made an ill-timed quip about bouncing cheques to the striker are as yet unfounded.... The match was abandoned following the ruck with the Argentines 2-0 up.
Bergessio, like most of his colleagues at San Lorenzo is the source of constant rumours about his future given the club's plight with Villarreal the latest club linked with him. More of a bar room brawler than a cultured fighter, Bergessio could however make some cash bare-knuckle fighting should the bailiffs come calling. With two World Cup qualifiers looming for Argentina the proverbial loose cannon could be a risk too far for Maradona, who hasn't called upon him for the friendly against Russia next week.
The 'opponent' 26 year old warehouse worker Gusmán Elizarzú was understandbly shaken by the affair 'You're crazy' were his final words to the raging Bergessio, later commenting on Bergessio's mass 'Have you seen the muscles on him?, He eats well, I weigh 68kgs and work 9 hours a day' he told Olé. As yet he hasn't spoken to anyone or received an apology from San Lorenzo, he is though willing to forgive but unlikely to forget his 'friendly'.
Hasta Luego!
Showing posts with label fights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fights. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Peace in Our Time?
The colours, the endless noise, the banners and the bouncing. These are just some of the aspects which make football in Argentina different from the sanistised and commercial version of the game we're forced to endure in the UK. Anyone who watched the unintentionally hilarious Danny Dyer on his Real Football Factories International exposes can see why being a spectator at these games is such an exhilerating experience.
The problem is that on fairly regular basis some fans turn their passion into violence. Most clubs have at least one faction of Barras Bravas (BB), deaths, games abandoned and players intimidated have all helped cement their fearsome reputations. In the UK the Government claims it has sucessfully cured the English Disease. By using methods such as all seater stadiums, extortionately priced tickets and CCTV cameras at our every turn; our grounds are a lot safer (and many would say less atmospheric) than they were 25 years ago.
Changing the dynamic of the football going public isn't an option in Argentina. For all the negatives many of the BB are an integral part of their club and community. Self-policing is the latest method to be tried by the authorities in an effort to bring them into line. Earlier this month an anti-violence summit was attended by more than 160 BB members representing numerous clubs and gangs (Boca, River, San Lorenzo & Velez did not go). Contrary to what you may have feared the meeting passed off peacefully , quite an achievement given the records of those attending. Central to the whole plan is the effort to clean up the gangs with ID schemes and a zero tolerance policy to those who have commited offences. A ten point manifesto has been drawn-up including some of the following:
Preventing fireworks being smuggled into grounds and assisting with the confiscation of those that have.
Informing the authorities of any pre-planned fights, where, when who etc.
Not exhibiting 'trophies of war' at matches. I guess this means not burning other teams flags, shirts etc which have been captured.
Giving the ball back when it goes into the stands.
It's also the responsibility of the BB's to make fans aware that getting a match abandoned will not be tolerated!!!
The press are sceptical about the effectiveness of this new approach and are taking a wait and see attitude. For now though, security within stadia will remain the responsibility of the BB's. If the violence can be reigned in whilst preserving the fantastic atmosphere Argentine domestic football will have found a winning formula.
Hasta Luego!
Check out The Real Football Factories International - Argentina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=renz0De2jn4
Stills of various fans set to a rather nice song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bm6apX4UaA
The problem is that on fairly regular basis some fans turn their passion into violence. Most clubs have at least one faction of Barras Bravas (BB), deaths, games abandoned and players intimidated have all helped cement their fearsome reputations. In the UK the Government claims it has sucessfully cured the English Disease. By using methods such as all seater stadiums, extortionately priced tickets and CCTV cameras at our every turn; our grounds are a lot safer (and many would say less atmospheric) than they were 25 years ago.
Changing the dynamic of the football going public isn't an option in Argentina. For all the negatives many of the BB are an integral part of their club and community. Self-policing is the latest method to be tried by the authorities in an effort to bring them into line. Earlier this month an anti-violence summit was attended by more than 160 BB members representing numerous clubs and gangs (Boca, River, San Lorenzo & Velez did not go). Contrary to what you may have feared the meeting passed off peacefully , quite an achievement given the records of those attending. Central to the whole plan is the effort to clean up the gangs with ID schemes and a zero tolerance policy to those who have commited offences. A ten point manifesto has been drawn-up including some of the following:
Preventing fireworks being smuggled into grounds and assisting with the confiscation of those that have.
Informing the authorities of any pre-planned fights, where, when who etc.
Not exhibiting 'trophies of war' at matches. I guess this means not burning other teams flags, shirts etc which have been captured.
Giving the ball back when it goes into the stands.
It's also the responsibility of the BB's to make fans aware that getting a match abandoned will not be tolerated!!!
The press are sceptical about the effectiveness of this new approach and are taking a wait and see attitude. For now though, security within stadia will remain the responsibility of the BB's. If the violence can be reigned in whilst preserving the fantastic atmosphere Argentine domestic football will have found a winning formula.
Hasta Luego!
Check out The Real Football Factories International - Argentina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=renz0De2jn4
Stills of various fans set to a rather nice song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bm6apX4UaA
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