Clashes after River Plate relegated

27 June 2011 Last updated at 09:11 GMT Police used water cannon to disperse River Plate fans at the end of the match

Dozens of people have been injured in clashes that broke out in Buenos Aires after Argentina's legendary football club River Plate were relegated to the second division.

The violence erupted inside the stadium. Street battles between angry fans and police continued outside.

River needed to win by two clear goals against Belgrano de Cordoba, but only managed a 1-1 draw.

This meant that River dropped to the country's B league for the first time.

The match, held in River's Monumental stadium, had to be abandoned in the final minute, amid chaotic scenes.

River Plate's fate seemed sealed after Mariano Pavone missed a penalty

Police fired water cannon up into the stands, following a pitch invasion by furious River fans.

Players from both teams had to be escorted off the field.

The violence continued after the game, with clashes outside the stadium between hardcore fans and helmeted riot police, as helicopters hovered overhead.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas, and also deployed mounted units to try to disperse the fans, who threw rocks and set fire to vehicles and rubbish bins.

At least 65 people were hurt, among them more than 20 police officers, according to Argentine media.

In all, more than 2,000 police had been deployed before the game in an unparalleled security operation for a club game.

Tears

The game itself was a fiercely fought contest. River had gone 1-0 up within the first five minutes.

Continue reading the main story

"From hope and euphoria to sadness and violence" - Clarin, Argentina

"River Plate: 110 years of glory and a day of infinite sadness" - Telam, Argentina

A football game saw the Monumental (stadium) go from hope to senselessness in 90 minutes - La Nacion, Argentina

"Like a true Argentine tango, River's last three seasons end in tragedy" - Gazeta Esportiva, Brazil

"A giant falls, setting off a roar that reverberates around the world" - El Pais, Uruguay

"Drama of the 'millionaires': it is as if Real Madrid were relegated - El Pais, Spain

"The nightmare has come true...League B is no longer a spectre but a harsh reality" -La Gazzetta dello Sport - Italy

But they saw their lead slip in the second half, after a Belgrano goal.

Then the man who had scored River's goal, Mariano Pavone, had a penalty saved, to the stunned reaction of more than 50,000 home fans. And that effectively sealed their fate.

By the end of the game, some of their players were in tears.

River, which has won more domestic titles than any other club (33), was one of only three never to have dropped out of the first division.

Many commentators have described it as a drop into the "abyss".

Argentina's press reacted to the result with disbelief.

The national daily, Clarin, wrote: "No-one, absolutely no-one, will be able to forget this day."

It said while Belgrano had been the "executioner", they did not bear most of the responsibility for River's fate.

And it added that "even the poor refereeing... and the management errors" that had helped bring the club to this point did not justify the incidents at the end of the game.

"Incredible but real" was the headline in the sports paper, Ole.

It flagged up the fact that River's descent has been presided over by one of its all-time greatest players - Daniel Passarella, the club's current president.

Police were among the injured in the troubles that marred the match

In recent weeks, River's fans have reacted angrily to a string of poor results, demanding his resignation.

It has been a steep fall from grace for Passarella, the man who captained Argentina's World Cup winning squad in 1978.

He was idolised by River's supporters when he played for club.

River's decline on the pitch has been mirrored by financial problems.

The club is currently carrying an estimated $19m (?12m) of debts.

This could mean River is forced to sell off several players.

View the original article here

Life after ballet

Acosta says he would 'probably have defected' if the Cuban government hadn't allowed him to pursue his career overseas

Carlos Acosta's story reads like a fairytale. The son of a truck driver, he grew up in Havana with 10 siblings, and went on to become the star of the Royal Ballet.

Now aged 38 and living in London, he feels he has "maybe three more years" before he will retire.

"As long as I can deliver freshness and not make a fool of myself I'll continue to dance," he said.

Behind the grace and beauty of ballet, dancers are often in constant pain, and injuries can jeopardise their careers.

Acosta has pain in his hips and has had repeated surgeries on his right ankle.

"I still think I have what it takes, but sometimes it's difficult to know when it's the right time, I think I still have the quality people like - but it's not very far away now."

"Ballet has been like being married for 30 years, and then for some reason life takes you on different paths, but you still have the memories of the woman you love - that's me and ballet."

Child of revolution

Acosta will be dancing the principal role in the Royal Ballet's production of Romeo and Juliet at London's O2 Arena on 17 June, and has spoken before of how demanding the role is, "you have five scenes and you dance almost until you drop dead."

But he said he dances the classics as much as he can "because each time might be the last."

This year Acosta was awarded Cuba's National Dance Prize, in recognition of his fruitful career, and for being "a genuine example of an artist who loves the revolution" - in the words of the president of the jury which awarded the prize.

Many Cuban dancers have had to defect in order to pursue a career abroad, and to dance modern, contemporary ballet - Cuban dance tends to be traditional and classical.

But Acosta has managed to maintain his ties with Cuba and travel back and forth freely. He says he has been "very lucky" to do this.

"I feel for those people who needed to go abroad to dance and be fulfilled. It is a logical course, and completely understandable and we need to change that," he added.

Acosta said that if he had not had the blessing of the Cuban National Ballet to pursue his career overseas he would "probably have defected" as well.

"If you don't have space to grow, what's the point? I need the sense that every day I'm learning and evolving as an artist, if I don't have that, what's the point?"

But he believes if he had grown up anywhere else he would not have had the same opportunities that he had in Cuba, and admits that he is "a product of the revolution."

"I was very poor and if I would translate my life to here (the UK) I would have had no chance."

Like Russian dancers, training for Cuban dancers is very strict, and is funded by the government.

Future plans

Acosta says his heart still belongs in Havana, and that he deals with the separation from his family and country "by creating defence mechanisms".

When he retires he and his British fiancee plan to move to Cuba, and he may start his own dance company.

Acosta doesn't intend to take over from his one-time dance teacher, Alicia Alonso, founder of the Cuban National Ballet - now aged 90 and almost blind. Instead he wants to create a new style of "fusion" dance in Cuba.

"I used to breakdance, I know how to salsa, but I also have a very strong classical training. You have to be able to dance anything as a ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet - that's what I'm looking for, the dancer I would like to form."

Does he think Cuba might be on the brink of change? "I think it's up to Cubans to change it, it's wrong for anybody to come to your home and tell you to rearrange the furniture, Cubans must do it - but I think it will happen."

Stephen Sackur's interview with Carlos Acosta will be broadcast on HARDtalk on Tuesday 14 June.

View the original article here