Fans rampage as River go down

Soccer:River Plate, the most successful club in Argentinian football, were relegated for the first time in their history last night. The Buenos Aires giants went into their relegation/promotion play-off against National B side Belgrano needing to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit but fell short.

In front of a sold out crowd at their Monumental home, they could only manage a 1-1 draw. It started promisingly for River when they went ahead through Mariano Pavano after just six minutes, but they failed to build on it and Guillermo Farre equalised 17 minutes into the second half.

Rioting "Barrabrava" hooligans caused mayhem inside and outside the giant stadium after the game. The violence from the fans throwing metal bars and stones left 25 people, including six police officers, injured, with one badly hurt after being hit by a car.

A major avenue nearby looked like a war zone with bonfires blazing, shops windows smashed and stores looted. A city prosecutor ordered the temporary closure of the stadium - exactly four weeks before it is due to stage the final of the Copa America - for an investigation into policing and possible illegal sale of extra tickets.

Players of both sides had to leave the Monumental pitch under the protection of stewards while police used high power hoses and tear gas to try to disperse the rioting fans. Belgrano were later able to celebrate promotion with the few hundred visiting fans, who, for their safety, were kept in their sector of the stands nearly three hours after the final whistle.