Seven-Year Jail Term Exposes Dark Side of Football Rivalry in Argentina

An Argentine court has sentenced a football supporter to seven years and six months in prison for threatening the family of Ángel Di María in an attempt to stop the former Argentina international from returning to his boyhood club, Rosario Central.

The sentence handed to Sergio Di Vanni, 45, in Rosario on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, has drawn attention to the growing concern over violence linked to football rivalries and the influence of organised supporter groups on the sport.

The case centred on threats made in 2024, when Di María was considering a return to Rosario Central while still playing for Portuguese club Benfica. The winger had spent much of his career abroad but was weighing up a homecoming to the club where his professional journey began.

Prosecutors said the threats were intended to frighten the player into abandoning the move. The case also exposed tensions among rival supporter groups in Rosario, a city where football loyalties are deeply rooted and matches between Rosario Central and Newell’s Old Boys often carry intense local significance.

Investigators linked the threats to people associated with Newell’s Old Boys’ hardcore supporters. Prosecutors argued that the intimidation was connected to an internal power struggle within the group and was allegedly carried out in exchange for money.

Among the incidents investigated was gunfire reported near a gated community where Di María owned property. Investigators also examined the discovery of a pig’s head bearing a bullet wound outside a real estate agency run by the player’s sister.

A threatening message directed at Di María’s daughter was also part of the case, intensifying concerns about the safety of the footballer’s family.

The threats reportedly affected Di María’s initial decision about returning to Argentina. Family safety was a major consideration as he weighed the prospect of playing again for Rosario Central amid the hostility surrounding the proposed move.

A woman identified as Belén Gutiérrez, 25, was previously sentenced to three and a half years in prison in June after reaching a plea agreement over her role in the case. Another suspect remains in pre-trial detention.

Prosecutors alleged that the threats were carried out for about four million Argentine pesos, estimated at roughly $2,600. The investigation examined whether the intimidation was part of a wider effort by rival supporters to influence events surrounding the player’s return.

Di María eventually returned to Rosario Central in 2025, ending his long spell in European football. His homecoming became a major moment for the club and its supporters, and he subsequently helped the team secure the Argentine title at the end of that year.

The case has highlighted the risks faced by footballers and their families when rivalry moves beyond the stadium and becomes a tool for intimidation. It has also raised questions about the power exercised by organised fan groups and the ability of threats to influence players’ professional decisions.

Football supporters have long played an important role in Argentina’s sporting culture, but violence involving hardcore groups has remained a concern for authorities. Rivalries between clubs can sometimes extend into neighbourhood disputes, threats and criminal activity.

The prison sentence against Di Vanni sends a strong warning that attempts to influence football decisions through intimidation can lead to serious criminal consequences.

For Di María, the case formed a troubling backdrop to his return to the club where his career began. For Argentine football, it has renewed attention on the need to protect players and their families from violence that has no place in the game.

About The Author