Disgusted Racing fans throw crutches on pitch

The match officials helped remove the crutches during the Copa Argentina match against lower league side Sarmiento, a 2-0 win for Racing, in the northern city of Resistencia on Wednesday evening.

Racing have been in dismal form in the first division Clausura championship and coach Alfio Basile resigned after last weekend's 4-1 derby defeat at Independiente.

"The fans' reaction is logical in a country that experiences football [in the exaggerated] way we do here, but I hope they'll support us as they always have," Racing's new coach Luis Zubeldia told reporters.

Media said it was not clear how fans had got away with taking a large number of crutches into the ground in Resistencia.

The Avellaneda derby at Independiente ended with a controversial Racing changing room episode in which Colombia striker Teo Gutierrez, sent off 21 minutes from the end, pulled a paint-ball gun on angry team mates.

Racing decided Gutierrez, sent off four times in 14 months, would not play for them again and have loaned him to fellow first division Lanus to strengthen their squad for the knockout phase of the Libertadores Cup.

Racing are four from bottom of the Clausura standings with nine points from 10 games, 11 points behind joint leaders Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys.