Two Rosario Central fans killed as football violence again rears head

Two members of a football hooligan gang were shot dead Saturday night outside the Rosario Central club stadium, local media reported.

Local television station Cadena 3, along with national media such as La Nación, named the victims as gang leader Andrés ‘Pillín’ Bracamonte, 53, and another member of the group, Daniel ‘Rana’ Atardo, 55.

"We have to work hard to clear it up and quickly to give an answer to society," Santa Fe Province Police chief Luis Maldonado told local station Radio 2 on Sunday, amid concerns that the crime could unleash reprisals within rival hooligan gangs in a city already rife with violence.

The gangs, or "barrabravas" as they are known locally, are mafia-like organisations with links to several of the country's top clubs and run by hardcore supporters.

Bracamonte, who was banned from attending Rosario's matches due to his history of violence, and Atardo were reportedly ambushed near the club's Gigante de Arroyito stadium, where the club lost 1-0 to San Lorenzo on Saturday.

The victims were travelling in a van, with Bracamonte as the driver, when "they were intercepted by at least two people on foot and fired multiple gunshots at them, seriously wounding them, and then fled," according to the report from the provincial prosecutor's office.

According to the statement, the wounded were helped by witnesses at the scene and then taken in private vehicles to the local hospital where they were confirmed dead. 

The ambush took place a few blocks from the stadium, where San Lorenzo had beat Rosario Central 1-0. 

The match had no visiting fans, so the initial hypotheses point to a possible adjustment between Rosario's hooligans.

During his 25 years leading Rosario's barrabrava, Bracamonte was the target of around 30 murder attempts, media reported.

On August 10, an assassination attempt was made when he was shot at while travelling with his partner. 

Bracamonte had appeared in court last Friday on charges of gender-based violence, for which the prosecutor had requested two years' imprisonment.

He was also charged with extortion, criminal conspiracy and money-laundering.

Fights between fans are common in Argentine football, and have claimed more than 350 lives since the creation of the professional league in the late 1800s, according to the Salvemos al Futbol (Save Football) NGO.

Away fans are banned from attending matches in Argentina – a measure to ensure safety.

– TIMES/AFP/NA