Things Go From Bad To Worse In Argentina

Well, first to the good stuff. Boca Juniors eased past bottom-of-the-table Quilmes yesterday to solidify there place atop of the standings. Rodrigo Palacio netted his ninth of the campaign while Martin Palermo showed that he's definitely back to full strength after is injury layoff. The win takes Boca four points clear with only four matches left to play.

The fight for second place and the right to battle Boca for the championship was won by Estudiantes de La Plata. Diego Simeone's team entered the match against tied with River Plate and without captain Juan Sebastian Veron or leading goalscorer Mariano Pavone (both out due to suspension). In the end, it didn't seem to matter much as Daniel Passarella's side was completely overrun by Estudiantes and lucky to only have given up three goals.

And now the bad stuff. Yet another match was suspended due to crowd violence yesterday at the Independiente v. Racing Club derby. I guess it's time to stop the game when riot police start firing rubber bullets at spectators in terraces. While it was the fourth match to be stopped this season, what might of made this Apertura season jump the shark was an incident from last Wednesday's game between Gimnasia de La Plata and Boca.

It seems that some armed Gimansia supporters, rather than see their arch rivals Estudiantes win the championship, stormed the clubs' headquarters and threatened the teams players. The group of supporters, part of the team's La 22 supporters club, are said to have told the team that if the they beat Boca, they would put a bullet in "every leg."

Today, six players and the team doctor gave testimony to law enforcement officials concerning the incident. The lead prosecutor, Marcelo Romero, has plans to talk to twelve more players before going public with his findings. After today's interviews, Romero would only state that "the interviews, to my understanding, were positive. But I cannot go into it any further right now." All of this has Passarella mad, and he's not going to take it any more.

Next Saturday, anticipating that games will be played, Estudiantes travel to Rosario to take on Newell's Old Boys. Boca will be on the road as well, they take the field against Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy on Sunday.

Independiente v Racing Club halted by violence [ESPN Soccernet]
"A positve day" (in Spanish) [Ole]
Passarella hits out after River lose to Estudiantes [Guardian UK]
Saturday and Sunday in Argentina [ESPN Soccernet]

-ac