David Caña, one of the leaders of the dissident faction of the Independiente supporters' group, showed up at the club's social headquarters to challenge Mario Nardalich, the current leader of the 'Red' supporters. However, the altercation did not escalate.
On the field, Independiente began the Apertura Tournament of the Professional League with two consecutive victories against Sarmiento de Junín and Talleres de Córdoba. In the stands, tension is palpable between two factions competing for control of the 'Red' fan base from Avellaneda.
On the night of Tuesday, November 5, during the 3-0 victory against Unión de Santa Fe, the dispute between the factions became visible to the spectators. The dissident faction, known as "La Gloriosa Banda de Independiente" (LGBDI), started throwing objects towards the lower stand where "Somos Nosotros," the group led by César 'Loquillo' Rodríguez, is located, which initially was a third party in the conflict but ended up joining forces with the official faction.
Amidst the aggression towards the group in the lower stand, the dissident faction chanted defiant slogans towards the official faction, inviting them to fight outside the Estadio Libertadores de América. The LGBDI supporters, with support from the Nacional supporters' group, were the first to fill the popular stand designated for fans, leading to a confrontation with the official faction.
During the celebration of the second goal by Santiago Montiel for Independiente, the official group descended from the stands and attempted to approach the dissident faction, but police intervention prevented a larger conflict, allowing the match to continue.
Two weeks ago, the 'Red' faced Defensor Sporting from Uruguay in Montevideo when a confrontation between the dissident and official factions delayed the start of the match. This situation led security authorities to impose a right of admission on the dissidents and require a warning to the Independiente management to avoid future incidents.
Tension rose again on Friday when David Caña, leader of the LGBDI, appeared alone at the club's social headquarters intending to provoke Mario Nardalich, the leader of the official supporters' group, who was present with three other members of the fan base. Caña filmed the hardcore fans and challenged them to fight, even spitting twice in Nardalich's face without him responding to the aggression.
