Argentine Pensioners and Football Fans Clashes with Police

In a dramatic escalation of ongoing protests against President Javier Milei's austerity policies, Argentine pensioners and football fans clashed violently with police in Buenos Aires.

The demonstration, which began as a weekly pension protest, turned into one of the most intense confrontations yet against the government's budget cuts.

What started as a peaceful gathering quickly devolved into chaos as hundreds of football supporters from rival clubs, including Boca Juniors and River Plate, joined forces with retirees. The unusual alliance saw fans setting aside traditional rivalries to stand alongside pensioners, creating an unprecedented show of solidarity.

Riot police deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the stone-throwing protesters. The clashes resulted in:

• At least 15 people injured, including a police officer with a gunshot wound

• Over 100 arrests

• A journalist severely injured by a projectile

For weeks, retirees have been staging demonstrations demanding higher pensions, citing deteriorating living conditions. The minimum pension payment, including a bonus, currently amounts to approximately $327, which protesters argue is insufficient.

President Milei's administration has defended its economic policies, attributing recent flood relief funding to fiscal discipline. However, the government's stance has done little to quell the growing unrest, with many viewing the austerity measures as excessively harsh on vulnerable populations.

Demonstrators chanted slogans comparing Milei's rule to Argentina's military dictatorship. The protests also invoked the memory of football legend Diego Maradona, with many carrying his image and recalling his support for retirees.

As tensions continue to escalate, Argentina remains on edge, with the government's economic policies facing intense scrutiny and opposition from a broad coalition of citizens. The unprecedented alliance between pensioners and football fans signals a potentially significant shift in the landscape of social protest in the country.