In recent times, images of visiting fans tearing money or burning banknotes in the Argentine grandstands have appeared with unsettling regularity.
Across South America, CONMEBOL continues to push a clear message against racism. The organization is not only running broad awareness campaigns across its competitions but also tightening penalties for clubs whose supporters violate the rules. Yet not every discriminatory behavior falls under the Confederation’s direct mandate, which has led Argentine authorities to take independent steps to curb the problem within their borders.
After multiple responses showed foreign fans, predominantly from Brazil, tearing up or burning Argentine currency in the visiting sections of national stadiums, the Agency for the Prevention of Violence in Sport (APREVIDE) of the Buenos Aires province decided to act. The agency moved to sanction those who, for any reason, mock the economic circumstances of the country by destroying currency notes, signaling a broader stance against actions that damage the national image and public order.
In an official statement, APREVIDE, operating under the provincial Ministry of Security, indicated that it had informed both the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and CONMEBOL that individuals caught destroying banknotes would face penalties under Articles 10 and 14 of law 11,929. The measures frame such acts as incitement to violence and a direct assault on the orderly conduct of sports events.
WHAT PENALTIES APPLY TO FANS WHO DESTROY TICKETS OR CURRENCY IN ARGENTINE VENUES?
APREVIDE outlined that foreigners who destroy or burn currency face a doubled set of consequences. Beyond possible arrest for up to 30 days, they would also be barred from attending sporting events within the territory of Buenos Aires for a period determined by the authorities.
Article 10 of Act 11,929 specifies penalties for those who repeatedly or sporadically cause disturbances, provoke quarrels, insult others, threaten participants, or otherwise disrupt the normal progression of a sporting event. Those penalties include fifteen to thirty days of arrest and a restraining order that can last from six to twenty dates. Article 14 addresses actions by entrants, organizers, and participants whose words, gestures, or provocations disturb public order, with penalties ranging from five to twenty days of arrest and a prohibition from participating in three to ten dates.
In addition to these administrative penalties, currency destruction also carries criminal implications. Under Article 283 of law 11.179, anyone who cuts, alters, or circulates altered legal tender faces imprisonment or detention ranging from one to five years, reflecting the seriousness with which the state treats attempts to undermine the monetary system and public trust.
The measures reflect a coordinated approach to maintaining safety and respect at football matches while signaling that economic grievances expressed through acts like currency destruction will be met with firm legal responses. This stance aligns with broader efforts to combat hate speech, incitement to violence, and actions that threaten the experience and safety of spectators in Argentina.
These developments come as part of a wider discourse on sports governance in the region, where football remains a powerful social force and a focal point for national identity. By enforcing penalties and clarifying legal consequences, authorities aim to deter provocative behavior in stadiums and ensure that fans focus on the sporting event rather than acts that degrade the country’s currency or public morale. The conversation underscores the balance between safeguarding public order and preserving the right to peaceful support, a balance that authorities say is essential for the health of the sport and its communities.