20100608
africanews

South Africa arrested and deported 10 suspected Argentine football hooligans who are said to be belonging to the country's "barras bravas" - organized groups renowned for football-related violence and were planning to disrupt the World Cup, local police said.

The group is known to have played a lot of disruptive role at many World Cups.

In Mexico in 1986, fighting between Argentine and English supporters left several fans hospitalized. In Italy in 1990 two factions fought for prized places behind the goal mouth during Argentina matches.

In the 1998 World Cup in France, police classified the Argentine barras bravas as the most violent and dangerous fans in Latin America.

About 80 fans, were arrested at Johannesburg Airport and found to be on an entry blacklist and were detained on Sunday after travelling from Argentina via the Angolan city of Luanda, and deported on Monday.

Media reports say at least two of them were group leaders and another was out on bail for murder in Argentina. Among the deportees is the leader of the San Martin barra brava, Sergio Roldan. He is out on bail and is under judicial process for the murder of a 13-year-old boy. There were delays in obtaining his criminal record and he got as far as South Africa.

Up to 3, 200 English fans known for disruptive behaviour have had their passports held by authorities to prevent them travelling.