Estudiantes La Plata- Banfield



Estudiantes legend Juan Sebastian Veron has registered his disgust at the actions of the barra brava who caused his side's match with Banfield to be suspended, and asked for the stongest sanctions possible against those responsible following the latest episode of violence in Argentine football.
Monday's match between the two bottom sides of the Apertura ended after just 13 minutes when, following a goal from Pincha old-boy Hernan Rodrigo Lopez for the visitors, Estudiantes supporters struck Cristian Lucchetti with a projectile thrown from the home terraces.

The game was stopped by referee Fernando Echenique as the barra climbed the perimeter fence and let off firecrackers behind the goal. It was finally decided, after consultations between the officials and police, to cut proceedings short, as the safety of players could not be guaranteed.

Veron was incensed by the actions, risking his own safety to square up to the fans and shout "Come down from there, sons of bitches, and outside I'll beat the hell out of you".

Questioned after the match, the 36-year-old could not hide his anger.

"There is a dispute [in the stands], between whom I don't know, and the ones who suffer are the normal fans who follow the team and who always make the effort to come," 'La Bruja' told reporters in the aftermath of the disturbances.

"There have to be severe punishments... this can be combated, there are plenty of examples of countries which had these problems and were able to remove them."

Estudiantes and Banfield will play the remaining 77 minutes of their clash on a date still to be determined by the Argentine FA. Veron has already announced that he will be retiring from professional football at the end of 2011.
goal.com