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Judge postpones soccer match over fears of violence

A judge on Saturday postponed the Argentine league game between River Plate and Newell's Old Boys over the fear of more violence between rival factions of River's hooligan fans, which earlier this week resulted in one death.

Judge Luis Rodriguez, who is investigating the killing of 29-year-old Martin Gonzalo Acro, indefinitely delayed yesterday's match.

Acro died early on Thursday, a day after being ambushed and shot in the head. Yesterday's game was to have marked River's debut in the Apertura championship. The Apertura began last week, but River's start was postponed due to its tour of Asia.

"The suspension is due to questions of security and the meeting of the [Argentine Football Association] executive committee on Tuesday will discuss when it will be rescheduled," association spokesman Raul Steimberg said.

On Friday, during the wake for Acro, the hooligans punched and shoved reporters who were covering the ceremony.

The reporters were trying to interview one of the most notorious and visible leaders the violent fan groups, Adrian Rousseau, which has been battling a faction led by brothers Alan and William Schlenker.

"They killed my brother. Now I'm going after his," Rousseau said in the sports daily Ole, making a clear threat to the Schlenker bothers, whose faction is fighting with Rousseau's for control of River's hooligans, known by some as "Los Borrachos del Tablon" -- the drunks of the place.
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