Futbol!

A while back I got the opportunity to go see the Santiago Valparaiso Wanderers, our local Division 2 futbol team play. This was not just a normal game but was the semifinals, if the Wanderers win the finals they move up to Division 1 to play about teams like the U and Colo Colo. The game I went to was hosted by the Panzers our neighboring team in Con-Con but was held in a stadium closer to Wanderers territory. Because of that there were a lot more Wanderers fans at the game. Let me just say the fans are crazy! The police force was intense although I'm not sure how much influence they really would have if something got really out of hand.

Just to get into the stadium was an experience, after waiting in line to get our tickets we went through security and then were told to form a line to get into the stadium to our seats. We formed the line but then all of a sudden a big group came through and it became a stampede to get into the stadium, even pushing through the police and guards. Once in the stadium people were climbing all over fences putting up banners and flags. As the game began everyone was singing/chanting the hymn of the Wanderers. As the players came onto the field confetti was thrown, toilet paper rolls, toilet paper, and bottles, really pretty much anything that could be thrown was thrown onto the field. During the game flame signals were lit and of course they let off a lot of smoke making it hard for the players to see. At one point a smoke bomb was thrown on the field and the police in full riot gear had to move it off the field. Fans also were letting out fire extinguishers to make it hard for the players to see on the field.

In the stands we definitely met some interesting (fleighty) people. The people sitting by us thought it was awesome that we were Americans and kept offering us pot and then told us that they were going to go sniff cocaine and sat and did it right next to us. Talk about sketchy!

It was a wonderful experience though. I love the excitement of the futbol games here. Even though it was a tie the fans had so much energy it as great. My apartment is on the way to the stadium so at night after the games I hear the fans come back singing. When the Wanderers won the championship and moved up to Division 1 the fans were so crazy that the police had to ride beside them to calm them down. I am such a big fan of futbol now, I just wish I understood it more.