Argentinian football is feisty and passionate. What’s more, more than half of all games are derbies. Of the 28 teams in the Argentinian top flight, over half call Buenos Aires home. The capital, a city of 15 million people, is both the center of cultural life in Argentina as well as its footballing heart. Local clasicos are numerous. However, almost none are as intense as the Avellaneda derby, the contest between Independiente and Racing Club.
The two sides share 116 years of history and their stadiums are separated by just 300 meters. It is a local derby in its truest form. In Avellaneda, Independiente and Racing graffiti compete on the walls. There are two types of bars: Racing bars and Independiente bars. Two types of restaurants: Racing restaurants and Independiente restaurants. And two types of people: Racing fans and Independiente fans.
Initially, there was no bad blood between the neighbors but all that changed in 1915 after a 2-1 victory for Independiente was overturned in court after Los Rojos Diablos were charged with fielding an ineligible player. Racing was awarded the victory instead, and the points were enough for La Academia to clinch the title. And it was Racing, along with the usual powerhouses Boca Juniors and River Plate, who dominated Argentinian football during the first half of the 20th century, winning 15 league titles until 1966.
Racing opened their glorious new ‘Cilindro’ stadium in 1950, and it outshone Independiente’s ground entirely. Racing was the envy of every club in South America, and rivals Independiente simply couldn’t rest with their noisy neighbors enjoying the lavish lifestyle of football royalty.
As a result, Los Rojos Diablos decided to live up to their name and carry out a horrifying act against Racing. After Racing won the Intercontinental Cup in 1967, Independiente supporters traveled the short 300 meters to their neighbor’s property and buried seven black cats under one of the entries to the stadium.
From that point onwards, a curse swept through Racing Club. La Academia has only won three league titles since and even got relegated from the top flight in 1980. And while Racing was attempting to shake this curse, Independiente rapidly began to rule the roost, adding nine Superliga trophies to their previous seven victories.
Subsequently, tensions between the fans have escalated and often become violent. Brawls are commonplace and in February 2002 there was a particularly horrific incident. A tradition among the Racing barra (fan club) was to have a barbecue before the derby. Such is the closeness of the rival clubhouses that Independiente’s barra could directly hurl stones at Racing’s clubhouse. And they did. An angry mob then stormed towards Independiente’s stadium. The Barra de Rojo stood waiting for them, brandishing weapons. There was a gunfight in front of hundreds of fans buying tickets. By the evening there were 25 people in the local hospital and 22-year-old Independiente fan, Gustavo Rivera, was dead.
Tonight, the Avellaneda Derby takes place once again. Expect passion, desire, and incredible scenes of devotion from both sets of fans. Seas of red and blue shirts engulf the stadium, unrestrained, wholehearted outcries of commitment and dedication can be heard throughout the city and the players prepare themselves for war.
It’s the talk of the town weeks in advance. Avellaneda has been waiting for this game, and a lot is at stake. Whilst Racing Club find themselves midtable, Independiente is fighting for their lives. In Argentina, the relegation system is unique. The bottom-placed side each year gets relegated, as well as two teams with the worst average over the last three years. Independiente has nine points from 11 games this season. They’ll need every point they can get and Racing Club helping to relegate them would scar fans forever. Tonight’s battle will be an intense one, as always, as the unremitting feud between these two sides enters the next chapter.
By Nicky Helfgott
