Police investigates River Plate stadium after yesterday's incidents

One day after River Plate’s relegation and its subsequent riots, the Federal Police conducted an investigation at the Monumental stadium. District Attorney Gustavo Galante ratified his decision to shut it down as a preventive measure and in order to run an investigation and collect evidence that might help identify those involved in the incidents. 

He also warned that the Rive Plate club could be sanctioned with a 4 to 6-match ban in the next tournament.

“The stadium has been shut down as a preventive measure, while authorities serve the club’s directors with a warrant and collect any evidence related to yesterday’s riots,” Galante said. 

Due to the serious incidents that took place yesterday inside and outside of the station after River Plate tied the second peg 1-1 against Belgrano de Córdoba, being relegated to the National B, the official ordered the premises to be shut down, except for the Educational Institute building.

Galante is also conducting an investigation on the alleged overbooking of the game, since authorities believe that the stadium was 12,000 people above its maximum capacity. 

“We had begun investigating this before the game, since they never reported how many tickets they had sold,” the District Attorney said, adding that they will be investigating River’s “control systems and their entry logs at the turnstiles.”

He clarified, however, that a possible overbooking bears no relation to the incidents that took place. “They are two different situations,” he stated. 

“What happened yesterday is a direct responsibility of those who reacted violently to the game’s result, but if we find any faults in the club’s security protocols, we have to investigate River Plate in order to evaluate their responsibility on this,” he warned.

After collecting the evidence, Galante will consider whether to reopen the stadium, which is scheduled to host the Copa America final, on July 24th.