Complete chaos.
The meeting which was to oppose Gimnasia y Esgrima to Boca Juniors on Thursday turned tragic.
"I confirm that there is a dead person," said the Minister of Security of the province of Buenos Aires, Sergio Berni.
This 57-year-old supporter was transported to the hospital, the doctors noted a cardio-respiratory arrest.
That evening quickly escalated with clashes that began outside the Juan Carmelo Zerillo stadium in La Plata, about 50 km south of Buenos Aires.
“The incidents started outside and spread inside.
There were around 10,000 people around the stadium trying to get in, some with tickets, some without.
Everyone could see that the stadium was completely full, ”explained Eduardo Aparicio, the head of the agency for the prevention of violence in sport.
Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse fans who tried to enter the stadium.
“All of this is under investigation”, and in particular “the actions of the police”, he added.
“The air has become unbreathable”
The meeting between two leading teams of the Argentine League was stopped in the 9th minute when the effects of tear gas arrived inside the stadium.
“The air has become unbreathable.
The situation got out of control and there were no more security guarantees,” said referee Hernan Mastrangelo.
Part of the public then invaded the lawn in search of fresh air, the gates of the stadium having been closed by the police to prevent any forced entry.
According to local media, several dozen spectators had to be taken to hospital due to the effects of the gases.
A sports channel cameraman was also hit by a rubber bullet.
“What was going to be a party ends like this.
What happened hurts all of us, it's terrible,” Boca Juniors technical director Hugo Ibarra told reporters.