Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that we were praising Independiente fans for their good behavior? Well, they made us eat our words on Friday night.
Fans of the Argentine soccer club rioted during a general meeting in Buenos Aires. They hurled bottles, chairs, tables and other objects at club president Javier Cantero because he told them something they didn’t want to hear.
Last season, Independiente was relegated to Argentina’s second division for the first time in its 108-year history. Friday’s meeting was the first time club officials publicly spoke to fans since that day, so there was always going to be some tension.
But the “clear-the-air” meeting turned into a “fill-the-air [with flying objects]” meeting when a fan asked how much money Independiente would spend on transfers next season. Cantero said there would be very little cash available for new players, and that’s when things turned violent.
A group of fans rushed the stage where Cantero and others were sitting. They threw various projectiles at club officials, forcing them to flee for their own safety.
When Independiente was relegated on June 17, their fans were somber, if not defiantly proud. Some sang, some cried, while others emotionally pledged their support to the club which has won a record seven Copa Libertadores titles (the most recent coming in 1984).
Maybe they were waiting for the right moment to direct their pent-up rage at Cantero.
Watch the chaotic scene in the video below.
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