If football in Argentina is a family affair, it seems a fan of a Buenos Aires club took his relative to a cup final – but in a macabre way.
Saturday marked the end of the 2024 edition of the Copa Sudamericana – the South American version of the Europa League – featuring Argentine club Racing Club de Avellaneda and Brazilian club Cruzeiro.
But a Racing fan who attended the final in the Paraguayan capital Asuncion decided to take the skull of a deceased relative.
When ESPN Argentina interviewed the man and his friend about why they had the human remains, he explained that it was not the former head of some random person.
“It’s my grandfather Valentin Aguilera, a die-hard Racing fan,” the person explained (via Foxsport Mexico). ‘Racing is my love and he is also my love, my grandfather.
The fan added that he takes his grandfather everywhere.
A fan of the Argentinian club Racing brought his grandfather’s skull to a cup final on Saturday
It looks like this isn’t the first time grandpa has resurfaced for sporting glory.
In 2019 there were multiple reports from outlets such as Sports illustrated And CNN revealed that a man named Gabriel Aranda – who looks a lot like the fan at the Sudamericana final – dug up the skull of his grandfather (also named Valentin) to commemorate Racing winning the league in the 2018/19 season.
Fortunately for this fan, his grandfather’s remains witnessed a new chapter in Racing’s sporting history.
Racing Club – nicknamed ‘La Academia’ – won the first Copa Sudamericana in its history by beating Cruzeiro 3-1.
Gaston Martirena put the first goal away after 15 minutes before Adrian Martinez doubled Racing’s luck in the 21st minute.
Cruzeiro made things interesting early in the second half with a 53rd minute goal from Kaio Jorge before substitute Roger Martinez sealed the deal for Racing in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Racing previously won the Copa Libertadores, the South American version of the Champions League, in 1967.
They have also won the Argentine top flight 18 times – third behind major clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors.