Chaos erupts after River Plate relegated

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- River Plate was relegated to the Argentine second division for the first time in its 110-year history Sunday, sparking ugly street battles between police and fans with dozens injured inside and outside River's Monumental stadium.

The drop came after a 1-1 draw with Belgrano in the second leg -- Belgrano won the first leg 2-0 -- of a demotion playoff. Mariano Pavone scored in the sixth minute for River, and Guillermo Farre tied it in the 62nd.

Violence broke a minute before the match was over. Angry fans pelted players with objects thrown from the stands, and police replied with high-powered fire hoses.

AP Photo/Ricardo MazalanPolice spray water at River Plate fans to keep them from jumping over the gate onto the field at the end of Sunday's match. River Plate was relegated to the Argentine second division for the first time.

As fans were pounded with jets of water, River Plate's players huddled on the pitch, many in tears, including goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo.

The mayhem quickly spread outside River's 50,000-seat stadium. Alberto Crescenti, head of emergency medical services, said at least 55 people had been injured, some of them police.

"Right now there is no fatality," Crescenti said.

Police used water cannons outside the stadium immediately after the match, hoping to disperse fans quickly. Fans who poured out of the stadium faced police with batons and shields at every exit, while attack dogs were ready and helicopters hovered over the stadium.

The area outside the stadium, located in the leafy northern suburb of Nunez, looked like a war zone with police battling hand to hand with River Plate hooligans, who are known by the colorful nickname "Los Borrachos del Tablon" -- the Drunks in the Stands.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas, and brought in mounted units to try to keep order.

Young, angry fans responded by throwing rocks at police, setting fire to rubbish bins and vehicles, and ripping down metal street barriers. Smoke also billowed from one end of the stadium with reports concession areas and other parts of the stadium had been set on fire.

Fans were also seen ripping up stadium seats and using parts of them as weapons in fights.

A half-dozen ambulances entered the stadium area about 45 minutes after the match ended, with live television coverage showing medics working on the injured and street fights erupting just a few feet away.

As the troublemakers were driven away from the stadium, there were reports of stores and shops being broken into on one of Buenos Aires' most famous thoroughfares -- Avenida Del Libertador.

Fearing this kind of violence, Argentine authorities deployed about 2,200 police -- reported to be the largest security operation for a football match -- to control the crowd of 50,000.

Suggestions to play the match in an empty stadium were turned down by interior ministry officials after consulting with the Argentine Football Association and its president Julio Grondona.

The violence was predicted. On Wednesday, the first leg in Corboda was stopped for 20 minutes early in the second half after River Plate hooligans ripped through a fence and raced across the field taunting and pushing River Plate players.

More information here.

Scottish Argentine: Buenos Aires Celebrates Scotland.

A Scottish Argentine population has existed for 180 years. Frequently, Scottish Argentines are wrongly referred to as English 

There are an estimated 100,000 Argentines of Scottish ancestry, the most of any country outside the Anglosphere.

The first Argentine woman to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree was Cecilia Grierson, of Scottish ancestry.

There have been Scottish Gaelic classes in Buenos Aires for over ten years now, and they are taken by Guillermo Santana MacKinlay, who is himself a Scottish-Argentine. 

Introduction of football:

The so-called "father of Argentine football" was a Glaswegian schoolteacher, Alexander Watson Hutton, who first taught football at St Andrew's School in Buenos Aires in the early 1880s. On 4 February 1884 he founded the Buenos Aires English High School [sic] where he continued to instruct the pupils in the game.. In 1891 Hutton established the Association Argentine Football League, the first football league outside of the British Isles. Five clubs competed but only one season was ever played.

His son Arnold Watson Hutton (1886-1951) was an Argentine football striker for the Argentina national team. He also played cricket, tennis and waterpolo for Argentina.

Notable Scottish Argentines

• Eduardo Mac Entyre, artist.
• Luca Prodan, musician
• Alejandro Anderson, actor
• Andrew Graham-Yooll, author
• Roberto M. Levingston
• Walter Owen, translator
• Jorge Brown, footballer
• Jose Luis Brown, footballer
• Carlos MacAllister, footballer
• Juan Perón, 41st President of Argentina
• Duncan Stewart, president of Uruguay, born Buenos Aires.
• Fernanda Neil, actress
• Franco Niell, footballer

Coordinated by the General Directorate for Institutional Relations of the General Secretariat of Government of Buenos Aires, the Scottish community in the City of Buenos Aires had it´s festival.

At 11 pm. a Mass was held in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Av Belgrano 579, where the Scottish clans were blessed.

 After the religious ceremony, it was a procession of bagpipers, followed by the flags of the clans, who toured the Belgrano Av.

Since 16 hs were made recreations of medieval battles and typical Scottish music was played. Thus, Buenos Aires were able to see the culture of this European country and live and share their traditions.

River on the brink of relegation

One half of Argentina’s famous duo of football clubs is on the brink of the humiliation of relegation from the country’s top flight.

River Plate, who boast a haul of trophies that would be the envy of any club in the world, will need to overcome a 2-0 deficit against Belgrano at El Monumetal this week.

While the club lays claim to 33 national titles and two Copa Libertadores crowns, current manager Juan Jose Lopez could forever be remembered as the man who took Los Millonarios into the second division for the first time.

However, despite losing the first leg of the relegation/promotion play-off, River Plate are clear favourites to win in front of a home crowd.

bwin prices River Plate at 57/100 to notch some kind of victory in 90 minutes, while the draw is priced at 12/5 and odds of 9/2 are available on another shock win for Belgrano.

The result in the first leg may have come as a shock to football betting fans around the world, but those with a keen interest in the Argentinean domestic game may have seen it coming.

Going into the first leg, Lopez’s side had not managed a win in four games, drawing three in a row and going into the final on the back of a 2-1 loss at the hands of Lanus.

By way of contrast, Belgrano have won three of their last five matches and will be full of confidence going into this final match of the season.

Opposition, Kirchnerites react to CFK’s announcement

Civic Coalition''s presidential candidate, Elisa Carrió.

Members of the opposition and pro-government blocs reacted to the official announcement of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who confirmed she will seek reelection in October.

Civic Coalition’s presidential candidate Elisa Carrió assured that Fernández de Kirchner “can take off her black dress and fight for the reelection now.”

The member of the opposition also assured she is glad that the president confirmed her candidacy. “I’m delighted to have the author of this model we are living in as my opponent” in the election to be held in October.

The presidential candidate for the Union for Social Development (UDESO), Ricardo Alfonsín, told the press he had “never doubted” the President was going to “seek reelection” and added that “there were going to be internal problems if she was not going to be the candidate.”

The presidential candidate and ex President Eduardo Duhalde considered that the current Head of State is “not ready to administrate the country.”

The ex president stated that “the one who pulled the strings was Néstor Kirchner,” and blasted the government for “using Hebe de Bonafini as a model.”

Meanwhile, the candidate for Buenos Aires province Governor, Margarita Stolbizer, harshly criticized Fernández de Kirchner by assuring that “we have once more an electoral process without rules.”

Stolbizer added that it is an “abuse of the power” and that the primaries elections should be suspended because they are “useless.”

The Ministry of Industry, Débora Giorgi assured that the decision of the president will allow “the continuity of the project for the country that began on 2003 and it’s based in the social inclusion and the re-distribution of wealth.”

“Cristina is the natural candidate to guide and strengthen the project of political, economic and social transformation initiated by Néstor Kirchner.”

The head of the Victory Front at the Upper House of Congress, Miguel Ángel Pichetto, agreed with Giorgi after assuring that Fernández de Kirchner “is the only guarantee for the continuity of the model that took Argentina out of the crisis.”

He added that “I’ve always known that she was going to be our candidate, because she is the main figure of the political project that transformed the country.”

Security Minister Nilda Garré considered that “an activist does not leave its post,” and assured that “I was convinced” she was going to seek the reelection.

“I’m very happy with her decision and I’m sure that she will settle new aims of administration in the next period as a president,” Garré continued.

More information here.

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announces she will be seeking reelection

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

While addressing the nation on live television, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she will be seeking reelection in the next October presidential elections. "I always knew what I had to do but I decided to wait until today to announce it," she said, adding she would once again "be facing the popular will."

Four days before reaching the deadline for registering presidential candidacies, the President confirmed that she would seek reelection next October, announcing that she wants to become “a bridge between the older and the newer generations.” 

After the confirmation of her wishes to run again, now the lingering question is running mate, whose identity remains covered by a veil of secrecy.

Speaking in front of government officials, actors, lawmakers and political leaders who gave her a standing ovation, Fernández de Kirchner confirmed that “she would have preferred to make the announcement on a date closer to the deadline, but we’re here now and once again, we will be facing the popular will.” 

The Head of State pointed out that she didn’t make the announcement before out of respect for “a political and institutional responsibility,” but she stressed that “she always knew what she had to do,” even since October 28th., one day after the death of her former husband and President Néstor Kirchner”

At the same time, she explained she would not be formally launching her candidacy in the Teatro Argentino in La Plata since that place holds an important sentimental value for her. Fernández de Kirchner attended several rallies in that theater, which she shared with her husband.

More information here.http://www.buenosairesherald.com/

The worst moment of River Plate

Lanús defeated River Plate 2-1, and led the team from Núñez to the relegation play-off against Belgrano. It will be the last chance of the historical team to stay at the premier football league.

Lanús' Silvio Romero opened the score at 30' of the first half of the game, but River's Erik Lamela managed to tie the result only 2' after the beginning of the second half. Although the partial result did not help River to leave the relegation area, it gave hope to the team from Núñez.Nevertheless, Leandro Díaz left River Plate without hopes after he netted Lanús' second goal in the 47' of the second half.

Possible match line-up:

River: Juan Pablo Carrizo; Jonathan Maidana, Alexis Ferrero y Adalberto Román; Paulo Ferrari, Matías Almeyda, Roberto Pereyra y Juan Manuel Díaz; Erik Lamela; Mariano Pavone and Leandro Caruso.

Goalee: Juan José López.

Lanús: Agustín Marchesín; Carlos Araujo, Santiago Hoyos, Paolo Goltz y Luciano Balbi; Mauro Camoranesi, Agustín Pelletieri y Guido Pizarro; Diego Valeri; César Carranza o Mario Regueiro and Silvio Romero.

Goalee: Gabriel Schurrer.

Referee: Pablo Lunati.

Stadium: River Plate.

More Information here. 

Arab Argentine

An Arab Argentine is an Argentine citizen or resident alien whose ancestry traces back to any of various waves of immigrants, largely ofArab cultural and linguistic heritage and/or identity, originating mainly from what is now Lebanon and Syria but also there are some individuals from the twenty-two countries which comprise the Arab World.

Although a highly diverse group of Argentines — in ancestral origins, religion and historic identities — Arab Argentines hold a heritage that shares common linguistic, cultural, and political traditions.

The majority of the 3.5 million Arab Argentines are from either Lebanese or Syrian background. Of the total 3.5 million Arab Argentines 784,000 Arab Argentines are Muslims. The interethnic marriage in the Arab community, regardless of religious affilliation, is very high; most community members have only one parent who has Arab ethnicity. As a result of this, the Arab community in Argentina shows marked language shift away from Arabic. Only a few speak any Arabic, and such knowledge is often limited to a few basic words. Instead the majority, especially those of younger generations, speak Spanish as a first language.

Celebration of Lebanese immigration in Argentina

Celebration of Lebanese immigration in Argentina.

ARAB FOLK DANCE BALLET "Baalbeck".

Corruption scandal rocks Argentina rights group

A corruption scandal rocking one of Argentina's leading human rights organisation is now tainting the country's president, Christina Kirchner.

Al Jazeera's Lucia Newman reports.

Argentine ambassador to UN regrets Cameron's sovereignty remarks

Argentine ambassador to the UN, Jorge Argüello.

The Argentine ambassador to the UN, Jorge Argüello, reiterated Argentina’s disappointment over British Prime Minister, David Cameron’s approach to Malvinas islands sovereignty, and said that it’s “worrying and irritating to hear the British Prime Minister confirm what everybody was thinking; also neglecting to abide by UN resolution.”

The ambassador’s comments came in response to Cameron’s firm statement yesterday to the House of Commons, in that claiming sovereignty over the Malvinas islands, “is not negotiable”.

During a radio interview, Argüello also restated that Britain’s position in the UN’s Security Council should be “reconsidered”.

“The international community should carefully reconsider the status of countries that continue to form a permanent part of the Security Council; especially those who systematically ignore or violate General Assembly decisions,” Argüello said.

More information here.

CFK bashes Cameron’s 'mediocre and almost stupid' remarks over Malvinas

President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner bashed UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s emphatic refusal to discuss Malvinas Islands’ sovereignty as the Argentine leader said the Englishman’s statements on the case were “mediocre and almost stupid”, during a visit to Northeastern province of Misiones.

The Head of State travelled to Misiones to inaugurate a shoe factory, and took some time to add another chapter to the Argentine sovereignty claim over Malvinas, South Georgia, and South Sandwich islands to the UK.

Likewise, the President considered that the kind of attitude shown by Prime Minister Cameron “revel that the UK is a coarse colonial power”, and added, “Colonialism is an antiquity.” 

The controversy was triggered yesterday after Cameron sent a clear message during a speech before the House of Commons in which the British leader stated that “sovereignty is not negotiable. Period!”

Rapidly after, the Argentine Foreign Ministry, issued a communiqué saying that the Government “deplored Cameron’s statement”, and continued, “In a regrettable act of arrogance, the United Kingdom claimed to have the authority to ‘put an end’ to the unresolved conflict regarding the Malvinas Islands sovereignty, a case that is currently being recognized by the United Nations.”

Also yesterday, Fernández de Kirchner stated that “it’s ridiculous to hold sovereignty of something that’s 14,000 kilometers away.”


More information here

2011 Presidential Elections

'Pino' Solanas registers his own alliance, breaks accord with PS and GEN

After a day of intense negotiations, the party led by fillmaker Fernando "Pino" Solanas broke its alliance with presidential candidate Hermes Binner and the leader of the GEN party, Margarita Stolbizer, and decided to go by himself and register his own force (Proyecto Sur party) before the Electoral Justice.

Thus, the Socialists, the GEN, Libres del Sur, Unidad Popular and the party of Luis Juez will be part of national alliance that will compete in the August 14 primary elections, while Solanas will present his own bloc made of Proyecto Sur, Partido Socialista Auténtico (PSA), and Movimiento Socialista de los Trabajadores (MST). The disagreement began after Santa Fe Governor Binner registerd his party along with Stolbizer’s bloc. Plus, Binner did not accept to see the remaining forces placed in the same category as the one of the GEN and the Socialist Party.

According to Noticias Argentinas new agency, both PSA and MST parties wanted to hold same status and privilege than the other alliance membersk, something that Binner refused to concede. This was the straw that broke the camel's back and pushed Solanas, who has had some other minor discrepancies, to break up with Binner and Stolbizer. 

More information here. 

Copa America 2011 is coming!

As most of you probably know we're less than a month away from the most important football event of this winter/summer, Copa America, and it will be played here in Argentina.

The tournament starts on July 1st and will end on July 24th and will feature 12 national teams : the usual 10 of CONMEBOL + 2 invited guests from CONCACAF, Mexico and Costa Rica.

More information about argentinian football here. 

More information about Copa America Argentina 2011 here. 

Buenos Aires celebrates Russia II

  

About three thousand of people have enjoyed a day with music, dance shows and traditional dishes at a tribute to the Russian community in Argentina, carried out on the Avenida de Mayo.

It was the second edition of "Buenos Aires celebrates Russia", which took place in front of the headquarters of the City Government, entity that organized the event. The party started at 14 and ended just after 18.

Enthusiasts were encouraged to dance on the asphalt, at the rhythm of the music. There were dance groups in traditional costumes, choruses and art exhibitions, performed by members of the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots. However, what attracted more the public attention were the five stands in which people enjoyed varenikes and other delights of Russian cuisine.

The City Government has organized every Sunday celebrations for immigrant communities in Buenos Aires. Last week was the turn of the Italians, celebration that gathered 20,000 people on the Avenida de Mayo.

Croats, Poles, Bolivians, Peruvians and Chileans, among others had celebrated their day before. Next week, it will be the turn of the Lebanese community and the great end of the season will be with the Spanish community, which has its home on the Avenida de Mayo.

"These festivals are organized in the framework of the "Buenos Aires celebrates program" that sponsor  the knowledge and cultural exchange between locals and the diverse communities established not only in the City, but also in the country” Said Claudio Avruj , Director of Institutional Relations of the government of the City.

Do you like tango?....II

Bajofondo playing "Pa´bailar"  live in Poland. Simply Awesome.

Kosher McDonalds - Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This is the only Kosher McDonalds in the world outside of Israel. Buenos Aires is known for it’s meat and the McDonald’s does not disappoint. Totally different flavors than what we’re used to in the U.S., but the kosher McDonalds is definitely worth the visit.

What’s crazy about this place is that the Abasto Mall is open super late just for the restaurants. The kosher McDonalds is open until 2am. I love it.

Enda Carey: Irish Expat in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Irish expat Enda Carey left a career in banking to indulge his passion for travel, something he and his wife have been doing extensively since moving to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Here he shares information on what it's like to live in Buenos Aires, his favorite activities, the prices of some of the local goods, and his observations about how certain things are done there.

-Where were you born? 

Dublin, Ireland 

-In which country and city are you living now? 

Buenos Aires, Argentina

-Are you living alone or with your family? 

With my wife 

-How long have you been living in Argentina? 

15 months 

-What is your age? 

41 

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Argentina? 

I had been working in banking for 13 years and wanted a career break to do more of my passion (traveling). My wife is from Argentina and the cost of living is low compared to Europe or US so it was an easy choice. 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit? 

No, it's not that difficult to get a work visa - a lot of paperwork but not many restrictions. 

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived? 

I waited until I arrived and although it's not cheap it was easy to get as there are many health insurance companies here.

-How do you make your living in Argentina? Do you have any type of income generated? 

Currently not working - the salary here is not good unless you earn dollars, Euros or pounds. Our focus was to use Buenos Aires as a base from which to travel to other parts of South America which we've done extensively. 

I'm not working but if you could arrange to get some type of telecommuting job before you come (paid in pounds, Euros or Dollars) - you would be very comfortable here. 

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? 

My wife is a native so obviously I can depend on her to a large extent. I speak a reasonable amount of Spanish. My grammar is not very good but I can make myself understood. My comprehension is not as good especially where more than one person is talking. It's very important to speak the language here - you will miss out on so much if you don't. In terms of local customs - they kiss each other on the cheek here which is difficult to get used to. Guys kiss too if they know each other, otherwise they just shake hands. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? 

I miss parts of home (the Guinness!) - I prefer the weather here though - there is plenty to see and do here. I play a little golf and I like to walk so there are plenty of opportunities for those activities. There is a good nightlife scene here which goes very late so that is good and bad (the day after)! 

-Do you have other plans for the future? 

I would like to live in Asia, maybe Hong Kong or Singapore. It's tough arranging that right now with the global recession. 

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it? 

We own our apartment - A one-bedroom costs approx US$500 per month to rent for a non-national or US$350 for a resident. To buy costs about USD$60K. Mortgages are not common here so people pay cash in full. 

-What is the cost of living in Argentina? 

Still cheap 

$US

e.g. Litre of beer in supermarket = $1.50

Good bottle of young wine = $3

Excellent bottle of wine = $10

Steak & Fries in reasonable restaurant = $8

Subway / bus = 30 cents 

but getting more expensive due to inflation and the global financial crisis 

-What do you think about the Argentines? 

For the most part they are very friendly and curious of tourists since tourism is still relatively new here (only really started on a large scale after the crash in 2001).

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Argentina? 

Positive = low cost of living / culture / great food and wine. 

Negative = Bureaucracy / red tape / corruption - It takes forever to get anything done here. e.g. to pick up a package in the post office took me 7 hours. To pay a simple telephone bill took me 1 hour. 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Argentina? 

Try to learn Spanish before you arrive (at least the basics) and don't arrive without savings if you're planning to work - you won't earn much money here. Research blogs and info websites before you come so you are aware of the good and the bad. Don't just arrive without being prepared.