Hugo Chávez Barroso is an experienced observer of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL football. Currently a content producer and writer for FutbolMLS.com, he also worked at ESPN, and the New York Red Bulls.
Which triumphs in your heart and mind; seeing your local rivals suffer or the good of the game?
by Hugo C. Chávez Barroso, CONCACAF Corespondent
The Fan Ultimate Desire Guide: from RiBer to ChiBas
Most will argue that the goal and dream of every club at the beginning of every season is to win the tournament in which they compete. It might even be argued that a winning mentality will evidently have the big ‘W’ as the primary objective. However, that sentiment might not exactly be shared by the loyal hardcore fans, who have a different prime demand for its club and players in their priority list.
Rivalries are a big part of soccer, in some cases, beating or not losing to the hated historical rival is more important than actually lifting trophies at the end of the season. And among supporters’ groups, mocking, ridiculing and teasing the rival fan bases after a humiliating loss can only be topped with one thing – the eternal rival being so awful that it is relegated.
Only then, when the nemesis club has been relegated can the fans from the prevailing club can always automatically win any ‘argument’ or keep the mockery at a higher level. No matter what the ‘relegated’ fans can say back, they will forever be branded for being sent to – sports-wise speaking – hell.
In Mexico, the discussion is currently surrounding the popular Club Chivas de Guadalajara, which is in the verge of relegation. Chivas is a special club in that country because of its policy that dictates that only Mexican footballers may suit up for the club.
The Mexican football community (players, coaches, press, club officials) argue that a lot will be lost if Guadalajara is relegated. Even emblematic people from historic rival Club America argue that Chivas and America need each other, and that not having the rivalry on the pitch for at least a year will be a shame.
However I wonder what the fans and players from the other Mexican clubs involved in relegation think of this.
The majority of America supporters as well as fans from other clubs who understand rivalries (including Chivas city rivals, Atlas), think otherwise. They want to see their antagonist club and fans burn in hell.
Further south in Argentina, the league has seen two greats pack their bags to play in the second division in recent years.
River Plate and Independiente had to spend a year in ‘Nacional B’. No one was happier than Boca Juniors and Racing fans. I’m sure both fan bases weren’t concerned with historic Argentine teams being relegated, or not playing them in the league for a year, or Argentinian football as a whole.
The Xeneizes weren’t exactly being merciful with the grieving situation of River fans when they mocked them in every way possible. The recently ended tournament in Argentina, which saw Racing take the crown with Diego Cocca as their coach, wasn’t exactly a pleasure cruise for Cocca.
This arose after his relationship with the Racing supporters suffered after he made the unfortunate statement that he would rather win the championship than win the match against Independiente (after losing to El Rojo).
These sort of situations aren’t exclusive to Argentina or Mexico, they have happened in Brazil, Italy, Germany…and in no case, did the rival fans joined and held hands with the suffering ones to ask for the salvation of a certain team.
Having a ball at your rivals expense. Sounders players celebrate a derby goal against Portland
Instead, they rejoiced in the other club and supporters misery. Asking fans to like or sympathize with the club they grew up despising? Not going to happen!
Hypothetically, if you are a Sounders fan and suddenly the Timbers/Whitecaps may be relegated or have the chance to win the Club World Cup, will you feel bad for them if they were relegated or feel happy because an MLS team has the chance to be World Champion?
I don’t think so. That will just completely defeat the purpose of rivalries. The passion of the fans is a big part on the building of clubs’ legendary statuses. TV analysts, club executives, and footballers themselves can not probably express publicly the feeling of the fans in the streets who crave the relegation of the #1 rival.
They are entitled to their opinion and of course to act and speak responsibly, but don’t ever say that those fans don’t know anything about being passionate and actual rivalries.
It apparently has become very hard in Mexico to understand the fans’ desire for their main opponents to be on the ground eating dust.
However, fans passion and ideals still prevail, and therefore rivalries will stand.
More from Hugo:
Why are Costa Rica dominating the US and Mexico?
