Author: Soorya G
Corinthians secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Copa Sudamericana with a goalless draw against Newell’s, having won the first leg 2-1. Despite a peaceful match, the actions off the pitch generated controversy. The visiting fans set fire to Argentinian ballot papers, which could lead Conmebol to take action against the São Paulo club. Important media outlets have reported that the Disciplinary Unit of the government entity is investigating and considering possible procedures.
#VIRAL UNA AVALANCHA HUMANA QUE PUED SER TRAGEDIA EN EL PARTIDO #ÑEWELLS 🆚 #CORINTHIANS
👉🏾 In the midst of the incidents between hinchadas, an avalanche was generated in the Rosarin partisanship that could have ended in tragedy. The police intervened with gum bullets. #VideoViral pic.twitter.com/5hrAx8lqwD
– Líneas de Noticias (@LineasNoticias) August 9, 2023
This act could violate article 10.2, section D, of the Conmebol Disciplinary Code, which deals with the “use of gestures, words, objects or other means to convey any inappropriate message at a sporting event, especially if it is of a political, offensive or provocative nature”.
If Conmebol considers that this behavior represents a violation of the strict rules that have been implemented to prevent such incidents, Corinthians could receive a warning or even a financial penalty. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first occurrence of this kind; their fans tore up Argentinian pesos during a Copa Sudamericana match against Boca Juniors, an incident that also made the headlines. Corinthians also condemned the racist actions of some Newell’s fans at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium.
🇦🇷 Todos los vídeos que me pasaron del bardo de Newell’s vs Corinthians 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/QLyxnU5Yx7
– 🥊𝕳 BARRAS DEL MUNDO ⚽🍺 (@Barras_LATAM) August 9, 2023
In a rather disappointing development, soccer matches between the teams of two great South American soccer nations, Argentina and Brazil, have been overshadowed by political animosity in recent years. In addition to the tension on the pitch, the hostility of the fans remains a pressing concern. While some tear up banknotes, others make racist gestures. Conmebol has always imposed serious penalties for discrimination, involving fines starting at US$100,000 and even the closure of matches. It is of the utmost importance that this type of action is discouraged as much as possible, so that soccer takes center stage instead of political tensions, considering that sport should be able to overcome these differences.