The television broadcast of the Avellaneda classic between Independiente and Racing captured a peculiar moment when a Racing fan joked with their rival about their drought of local titles. During the first half of the match at the Estadio Libertadores de América, shortly after Gastón Martirena's goal for Racing, a small plane flew over the stadium displaying a banner with the phrase "unhappy 23 years."
This provocation was directed at Independiente, which has gone almost 23 years without winning a local title. The scene, captured by cameras during the classic, highlighted the historical rivalry between both clubs, reigniting the passion of the fans in this traditional Argentine football matchup. The image of the banner in the sky became a symbol of the rivalry and the folklore surrounding this type of sporting event.
The presence of this provocative message triggered mixed reactions among the supporters of both teams, sparking a debate on social media and in the media about the limits of humor and healthy rivalry in football. Despite the controversy that such a direct action might provoke, these gestures are part of the idiosyncrasy of Argentine football, where passion and rivalry go hand in hand in every classic.
