The poisonous influence of Los Borrachos is thought by many to be behind the decline of River Plate however, they are not the only club in the country to be rotten with hooliganism. Their power gathered strength in 2006, when internal divisions sparked a violent war between various leaders that culminated in the murder of the influential Gonzalo Acro in 2007, shot three times as he left a gym. In River Plate's case, this is alleged to include security inside the Estadio Monumental, selling merchandise, and even the buying and selling of players. Known as Los Borrachos del Tabon, which translates as 'the drunks of the terraces', the hooligans are one of the most dangerous and feared firms in Argentina, a country where the unofficial fans' groups known as 'barra brava' can have a significant financial interest in the fortunes of the clubs they follow. Relegation comes at the end of three disastrous years for River Plate, who are £15m in debt and are reputed to be under the control of a powerful hooligan element. Two short, separate championships are played per year and relegation is worked out on an average of points accumulated over three years, or six championships. The humiliation of relegation is compounded by the way the Argentinian league is biased in favour of the established teams. They have 33 titles to their name, the last coming just three years ago, under the management of David Beckham's former nemesis Diego Simeone, but are having to face up to life in the National B league, which kicks off again in a month and a half's time. River Plate are the most successful club in Argentina, nicknamed Los Millonarios (The Millionaires) after they bought a player for £23,000 in the 1930s and paid mostly in gold. The River Plate players and staff needed a heavy police escort before it was safe for them to leave the ground, and contemplate the unthinkable.

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