Argentine hooligans export their expertise

Argentine hooligans export their expertise

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Argentina's notorious football hooligans are selling their trouble-making expertise abroad, principally to Colombia and Mexico, a report in the sports daily Ole said Wednesday.

Ole quoted a government source as saying members of Argentina's barras bravas - a hardcore groups of fans -- had travelled to the two countries to meet supporters and organise conferences, charging for their advice in U.S. dollars.

The subject matter included terrace chants, the use of weapons and methods for extorting money from club directors and players.

The report said a leading fan from Mexico's Pumas UNAM had twice visited Buenos Aires to obtain first hand experience of the methods used by the notorious Boca Juniors supporters club known as "La Doce" (The 12th man).

He stayed in a top five-star hotel and continued the exchange via e-mail after returning to Mexico, the report added.

Rafael Di Zeo, leader of La Doce, was quoted as saying: "As far as the world's hooligans are concerned, La Doce is Harvard. They come here to learn."

Argentina has a chronic hooliganism problem which played havoc with the Apertura championship in the second half of last year.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Rio de Janeiro)