Marked men

By R.D. | BUENOS AIRES

LIKE all fans going to the football World Cup in Brazil in June, Argentina’s barras bravas—“tough gangs” of supporters, often likened to European “ultra” groups—are looking for a bit of fun. The question the Brazilian authorities have is, what kind of fun? Argentina’s fans have a fearsome reputation: Let’s Save Football, an Argentine non-governmental organisation, says that on average more than five people have died in football violence in Argentina every year since 1983, for which it blames the barras.

Brazil has requested that Argentina share information on its football hooligans’ criminal records, ahead of the tournament. But 650 members of a group of barras called the United Argentine Fans (HUA) have brought a case to court to stop the government handing over the information. Their lawyer, Debora Hambo, says that passing on the information would be illegal, and adds that her clients face unjust attention and mistreatment by police if the information is shared. The HUA’s members, who come from rival teams, are a peaceful bunch, Ms Hambo says: “That’s their objective. No violence in football”. Opponents argue that the HUA’s case against Argentina is an attempt to ensure that its members can travel to (and within) Brazil unopposed.