World · Latin America · 2 hrs ago
Sisters clash over control of Chacarita Juniors’ fan group
A feud between sisters has split Chacarita Juniors’ organized fan group in Argentina.
Angélica Molina leads the official group, while her sister Ana leads a breakaway faction called Los Pibes de Chacarita.
These groups, known as barras bravas, can control lucrative illegal businesses around stadiums, including ticket resales, parking and drug sales.
The rival factions exchanged gunfire after a match on September 5, leaving four people injured, including Angélica.
The violence has made the conflict especially serious at Chacarita, whose fan group is described as the most violent in the country in recent years.
Chacarita must beat Nueva Chicago at home to avoid relegation from Argentina’s second division in its upcoming match.
Residents fear the match could bring more violence, but the sisters and their lawyers could not be reached for comment.
The outcome of the match will determine whether Chacarita stays in the division.
A power struggle between two sisters leading rival Chacarita Juniors fan groups erupted into a shooting in September, leaving four people injured.
Angélica Molina leads the club’s official Famosa Barra de San Martín, while her sister Ana Molina leads the dissident Los Pibes de Chacarita.
The dispute concerns control of the fan group, whose leaders are linked to lucrative illegal businesses around the stadium.
The violence has raised fears among local residents of further clashes.
Chacarita, a second-division club, faced a match against Nueva Chicago to avoid relegation, according to the report.
- Who
- Angélica Molina, leader of the official fan group, and her sister Ana Molina, leader of a rival group.
- What
- A struggle for control of Chacarita Juniors’ fan group led to a shooting in which four people were injured.
- When
- The shooting took place on September 5. The report also refers to a match scheduled for Monday the 2nd.
- Where
- In the streets around Chacarita Juniors’ stadium in the Buenos Aires area.
- Why
- The sisters’ groups are fighting for control of the fan group. The report links tensions to Angélica’s centralised decision-making and distribution of profits.
Angélica Molina’s Famosa Barra de San Martín
Ana Molina’s Los Pibes de Chacarita
Control of the fan group
Angélica Molina’s Famosa Barra de San Martín
Angélica leads the official group.
Ana Molina’s Los Pibes de Chacarita
Ana leads a dissident group seeking control.
Leadership and finances
Angélica Molina’s Famosa Barra de San Martín
Angélica’s leadership concentrated decisions and divided profits less, according to journalist Gustavo Grabia.
Ana Molina’s Los Pibes de Chacarita
The report says Ana gathered people dissatisfied with Angélica’s leadership; it does not state Ana’s views directly.
Raúl Escalante was invited to become a Chacarita Juniors official.
Escalante suffered a stroke and became disabled.
Escalante died, after which Angélica Molina took full control alongside her son Diego Canteros.
After Chacarita lost 1–0 to Atlanta, a fight over control of the fan group broke out in the streets and four people were injured.
Chacarita was due to play Nueva Chicago at home and needed a win to avoid relegation.
- Official fan group
- Famosa Barra de San Martín
- Dissident group
- Los Pibes de Chacarita
- Official group leader
- Angélica Molina
- Dissident group leader
- Ana Molina
- Injuries
- Four people were injured in the September 5 shooting
- Club division
- Chacarita Juniors plays in Argentina’s second division
What people are saying
It is a unique story in Argentine football and across the planet. If, with Elon Musk’s spacecraft, we someday reach Mars or Venus, find life like ours and tell this story, they will say it is not true.