Fans force Mohamed out of Independiente
Reuters - Monday 05 September 2011, 18:02
BUENOS AIRES - Independiente coach Antonio
Mohamed quit on Monday after a 1-0 home defeat by Boca Juniors
saying he had been forced out of the club by hardcore fans.
Poor results in off-season friendlies and the first four
matches of the domestic Apertura championship and defeat by
Brazil's Internacional in the South American Supercup last month
did not help Mohamed's cause.
"I'm not taking this decision, the barra bravas took it,"
said Mohamed, using the term for gangs of hooligan fans who
blight Argentine football, after saying farewell to the players
at Independiente's training grounds.
About 200 Independiente barra bravas chanted insults at the
players and Mohamed outside the changing rooms at the
Libertadores de America stadium after Sunday's night's defeat,
calling for them to go. As the team left the ground they played
a funeral dirge.
"Ninety percent of the fans did not insult [us during the
match] and have always backed... the players and coaching staff.
Yesterday, a group of barra bravas, sent or not sent [to do
this], went to insult us and left a very clear message," Mohamed
told reporters.
There have been reports of a relationship between
barrabravas and club directors for years with the latter
financing trips to away matches and even abroad. Sources close
to the club said Mohamed had refused to give in to barrabravas'
demands for money.
Mohamed, a former Argentina striker who had been in charge
for 11 months, steered Independiente to victory in last year's
Copa Sudamericana, South America's Europa League equivalent,
leaves with a record of 16 wins and 16 defeats in 51 matches.
"The club were international champions, will play the next
Sudamericana, are three points from qualifying for the Copa
Libertadores... this wasn't a sporting issue," Mohamed said.
"Argentine football is in a bad state," added Mohamed, whose
place will be taken for the time being by caretaker Christian
Diaz, a junior team coach.
Independiente are the record seven times South American
champions but the last time they won the Copa Libertadores was
in 1984. They have 14 domestic league titles but only two in the
era of two championships per season which began 20 years ago.