Fans in a stadium stand with flags displaying messages supporting their team and protesting the absence of visiting supporters.
ARGENTINA

Thanks to Milei's government, visiting fans are returning to Argentine soccer.

Claudio Tapia announced that the AFA has authorized the return of visiting fans after years of restrictions

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) officially confirmedthe return of visiting fans to Primera División matches, after years of restrictions motivated by security concerns. The announcement was made at the facility the entity owns in Ezeiza, with the presence of its president, Claudio Tapia, who described the day as "an extremely important day for Argentine football".

The first match with both sets of fans will be the game between Lanús and Rosario Central, where 7,000 tickets will be made available for the fans of the Rosario team.

Two men in suits and ties sitting at a conference table in front of microphones
Claudio (El Chiqui) Tapia - President of the AFA | La Derecha Diario

The initiative takes place within a process coordinated with different levels of government, mainly through the Tribuna Segura program, promoted by the Ministry of National Security, headed by Patricia Bullrich, and in line with the general guidelines of the national government led by Javier Milei.

Tapia stated that the objective is to progressively extend this measure to all professional and lower division football matches, through "training sessions" involving club officials and security forces.

He also announced a meeting with city authorities to move forward with implementation in Buenos Aires City:  "We'll see if there's willingness," which I understand there is, "to work in the same direction".

In this context, the Tribuna Segura program has been key to enabling this step. It is a tool for access control and violence prevention, which allows for the digital identification of attendees and prevents entry to individuals with criminal records, judicial restrictions, or who are subject to admission bans.

A woman standing at a podium holds a long sheet of paper while several people watch her in a room with a blue background and an Argentine flag.
Patricia Bullrich - National Security Minister | La Derecha Diario

Bullrich highlighted, ahead of the Club World Cup organized in the US, that "since the beginning of this government, Tribuna Segura has checked more than 4 million people at 1,328 matches. 1,166 individuals with arrest warrants were detected and more than 40 administrative resolutions were issued restricting entry to stadiums".

Meanwhile, Tapia distanced himself from the "neutral fans" model implemented by some clubs in recent years and considered that this mechanism "doesn't benefit football or the security agencies". According to the head of the AFA, the coordination between national, provincial, and municipal authorities has made it possible to consolidate an effective operational framework to guarantee order at sporting events.

The reopening of access for visiting fans is part of a broader security strategy that seeks to restore order, predictability, and a family atmosphere at mass events, and is a direct consequence of the control measures promoted by the national government.

➡️ Argentina

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