RIOTS COMPOUND RIVER PLATE'S RELEGATION MISERY

ARGENTINE FOOTBALL GIANT RELEGATED

FOR FIRST TIME FROM TOP DIVISION

(CNN) - One of South America's most famous football clubs, River Plate, was relegated from Argentina's top division Sunday for the first time in its 110-year history, sparking riots among supporters.  The relegation play-off against Belgrano of Cordoba had to be abandoned in the final minute of the match in the Argentine capital, as police fought back a pitch invasion by furious River fans.  Their side had gone into the match needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first-leg of the play-off decider, but could only manage a 1-1 draw to seal their ignominious fate.  Both sets of players were forced off the pitch after coming under fire from a hail of missiles from the crowd, while firefighters sprayed water hoses into the stands to try to restore order.

Based in the affluent Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the “millionaires” are the country's most successful team, having won a record 33 league titles. Their rivalry with the Boca Juniors club across the city is among the most intense in world football.  But in recent years a huge debt has forced the club to sell off its top players.  The unrest quickly spread to the streets outside the stadium, where riot police battled to contain the furious fans with horses and water cannons.  The clashes left 68 people injured, while over 50 were arrested, according to Argentina's Federal Police. Two officers were left “in a serious condition with head injuries from being hit by projectiles,” police added.

Legendary Argentine football giant River Plate were relegated from the country’s top division for the first time in their 110-year history, amid tears and scenes of violent mayhem.  River needed to win to escape dropping into the Primera “B”, but it managed only a 1-1 draw against Belgrano de Cordoba.  Being relegated to second division, the violence spread outside the stadium, where police used horses and water cannon to control furious fans.  The clashes left 68 people injured, 50 arrested and 15 vehicles destroyed.  Krsna consciousness takes us away from this kind of fanaticism and engages us in auspicious and spiritual activities.  

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?  

The material world does not offer any growth; it just keeps your body, holds the body in some way as though he is leaving us, and so it is bad business.  All we need is already here and we can discover everything in a natural way.  Krishna says that one must be very determined not to be misled by the propaganda, worldly interests, the so-called friends, television, and many items that appear to disrupt our determination.  So many people are not interested; they only think in football, in sports, in sex life, or alcohol at parties.  Determined means: “I will reject what is worldly, those things which are artificial; I'll just look for sadhu sanga, association with the saints, and the association with those who raise me. ... I can chant Hare Krishna and feel superior happiness” and then decide to change my life.

Śrīla Atulananda Ācārya :
“The Path to Devotion I” -  “Pathways to Surrender”
Academia Vaisnava - Radha Dasyam Visnupriya Asram
Medellín, Colombia  -  http://www.atulanandadas.cl/
http://www.atulanandadas.cl/descargas/elsenderohacialadevocion1.pdf