Football
Adriana Garcia 6y

Argentine club chief's house shot at, neighbour's car burnt by angry fans

Some supporters of Argentina third division side Almirante Brown have directed their frustrations over the club's poor run of form by shooting at the club president's house and his son's car.

Almirante Brown, based in the San Justo, Greater Buenos Aires, fell 2-1 at home to San Miguel on Saturday afternoon, their fourth straight loss to drop to the bottom of the Primera B Metropolitana standings.

Shots were fired at the front door of club president Antonio Argento's home and his son's car while a neighbour's car was burnt in the early hours of Sunday morning. No one was injured.

Argento, who has a police car outside his house, told Argentinian TV station 5CN: "Due to the sporting results that the club is getting, we suffered this assault and this is not the solution moving forward. What we need to do for the club to win and to improve is to support and not burn cars and intimidate the neighbours.

"This is a calm neighbourhood and we are not used to these types of incidents. What worries me the most is my family and the material damage that this caused. Had it been my car, it's bad luck but it was one of my neighbours. My son was inside the house when this happened. Unfortunately this is not going to help the club. What these people want is to be managed by someone who thinks like them and who can be constrained and I'm not."

Sunday's incident is just another example of how violence continues to plague football in Argentina.

Argento says he is considering stepping down because of what has happened.

"In order to protect my family and my neighbours, I should resign but I'm going to try and help my colleagues so that they can manage the club and so that the club continues," he said. "I will see then what I do next. The club members voted for me to do what I do which is to administer the club and guide it financially. I see the players and coach worried about the sporting results and what we need to do is to support them as much as we can."

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