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TV footage showed Belgrano supporter Emanuel Balbo being set
upon by hooligan fans of the same team during Saturday’s derby
against bitter rivals Talleres in the northern city of Cordoba.
The 22-year-old was pushed as he tried to get away, falling more
than three meters into a concrete stairwell and landing on his
head.
Judge Liliana Sanchez told TyC Sports that four men already
arrested and notorious “barrabrava” hooligan Oscar Gomez, who is
said to have instigated the attack and is being sought by
police, faced charges of aggravated homicide and up to 34 years
in jail.
Balbo’s father Raul told reporters his elder son had been killed
in a hit and run incident by Gomez four years ago.
"Here at Belgrano we are praying that Emanuel Balbo and Diego
Frydman recover," the club said in a statement, adding that
another fan had been injured in a separate incident.
Barrabrava violence is endemic in the Argentine game with Balbo
the 317th fatal victim since 1922, according to statistics
published by the NGO Salvemos al Futbol (let’s save football).
A ban on traveling fans at Argentine league matches has been in
place since 2013 in a bid to curb the violence. Efforts to lift
it at selected matches have failed.
The first derby between the rival teams for 15 years ended 1-1
with Talleres in 10th place, 14 points behind leaders Boca
Juniors, and Belgrano one from bottom of the 30-team
championship standings.
(Reporting by Rex Gowar, editing by Ed Osmond)
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