At least 15 individuals have sustained injuries and more than 100 have been taken into custody in Argentina following a violent clash between football fans and retirees and police during a protest in the capital city, Buenos Aires. The demonstration was held in opposition to economic policies implemented by President Javier Milei, particularly cuts to pension benefits that have significantly affected the elderly population.
On Wednesday, riot police responded to the escalating tensions by deploying tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse crowds of protesters who were throwing stones and engaging in confrontations with law enforcement. The unrest comes in the wake of growing discontent over Milei’s administration, which has faced criticism for its austerity measures that have left many retirees struggling to make ends meet.
Emergency services reported that among those injured were a police officer who had been shot and a protester who suffered a serious head injury from a tear gas canister. Medical personnel quickly transported the injured to local hospitals for treatment.
The retirees, who have been regularly assembling each week to voice their grievances over the erosion of their pensions, found solidarity on this occasion with several local football fan clubs. The unexpected alliance was catalyzed by the viral circulation of a video showing an elderly man in a football jersey being violently assaulted by police, which galvanized public outrage and drew thousands to the streets in protest.
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Daniel Schweimler, reporting live from Buenos Aires, noted that the scale of the protests swelled rapidly as demonstrators expressed their anger not only over the pension cuts but also against the perceived brutality of law enforcement. As tensions continue to rise in the capital, the unfolding situation highlights the broader discontent with the government’s economic strategies and the urgent calls for change among the citizens.
