The South American game really is something else, and its much more than the untoward incidents which plague it. Although they seem to be occurring more regularly.

But, I’ve also heard that in many clubs the barra bravas populations are withering with inner conflicts consuming the gangs from inside.

And I quite like an Eduardo Galleano quote that Mora y Araujo uses in one of her articles:

“As a sport football is not condemned to generate violence even though violence sometimes uses it as an escape valve. The power system, on the other hand, is a violent factor… its injustices and humiliations poison the soul of the people, its values reward those without scruples and its traditional impunity stimulates crime and helps perpetuate it as a national custom.”

That pretty much says it for me.

I have watched all 3 intercontinental club tournaments. I have noticed that there is far more wing play in European club football than in South America. Moreover, the camera work is utterly shoddy. Sometimes I have watched matches that makes it seems that I am viewing the game from a galaxy far, far away. And, yes, there is always an air of violence both in the stands and among the players at all these club matches.