Return of Visiting Supporters
The Argentine Football Association has ended its ban on fans traveling to away matches after more than a decade, and this move marks a major change for local football culture. The ban began in 2013 following tragic clashes that led to loss of life, and since then clubs have hosted only home supporters.
Now the AFA will allow visiting fans to attend select matches under a careful plan that starts with trial events. The first tests feature the presentation of World Cup winner Ángel Di María with Rosario Central and a match where River Plate travels to Instituto de Córdoba.
Di María’s Homecoming Event
Ángel Di María’s return to his boyhood club drew huge attention across the country, and his presence turned an ordinary signing into a memorable ceremony. He joined Rosario Central at the Gigante de Arroyito stadium alongside his family and scored on his debut from the penalty spot. The lively crowd watched him play before a late tackle left him injured, and he later reassured fans that he would recover soon.
He chose this move over offers from abroad because he wanted to play for his home team once more, and that choice inspired many supporters who waited years to see their heroes in action. tribuna.com highlights how his decision came as a sign of hope for Argentine football, and batimes.com.ar notes that his arrival may trigger more big names to follow.
Security and Approval Steps
Clubs must meet strict security standards before they can host visiting supporters, and local authorities will review each request for approval. The away team has to guarantee that its fans will behave well, and match organizers will share detailed plans on how they will separate rival groups. Buenos Aires City Security Minister Horacio Giménez explained that they reviewed the proposal carefully and found the measures strong enough to proceed.
Trial matches like the Copa Argentina fixture between Excursionistas and Argentinos Juniors provided a chance to test these steps in May 2025. Those events ran smoothly and gave organizers confidence to move forward. straitstimes.com reports that the trials showed good coordination among clubs, police forces, and fan groups.
Lanús Stadium as a Test Venue
The Estadio Ciudad de Lanús Néstor Díaz Pérez will host key tests for the return of away fans, and the site has handled major games including Copa Sudamericana fixtures. Lanús hosts around eight big events every three months, and its design allows clear separation of different fan sections without mixing rival supporters.
Rosario Central president Gonzalo Belloso urged his club’s supporters to set a good example by behaving responsibly when River Plate fans arrive, so that authorities will approve more matches with visiting supporters. flashscore.com and predicthq.com note that monitoring systems will track crowd movements and alerts will go out at once if any trouble starts.
Personal Analysis
I feel this plan could bring back a vital piece of passion that shaped local football for generations, and it may even raise revenues for smaller clubs that missed out on ticket sales for away supporters. However, the success of this move will hinge on each participant doing their part to avoid clashes, and fans will need to show respect for rival supporters by sticking to agreed areas.
If these trial runs prove trouble free, other clubs will soon host visiting fans and stadiums will fill with chants from every corner of the stands once again, giving matchdays the energy they lost over the last twelve years.
Sources:espn.com
