Argentine match suspended after hooligan ruling

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Oct 21 (Reuters) The security ministry of Buenos Aires province have suspended tomorrow's match between Racing Club and Boca Juniors hours after a court said violent Boca fans could go to the game despite a Racing stadium ban.

''We aren't going to provide security and that means the game will not happen,'' minister Leon Arslanian told reporters yesterday ''We have to be really firm about this... we must banish thuggery.'' A new date for the game was not immediately announced.

Argentine domestic football is among the most violent in the world. One match this year was stopped due to alleged threats to a referee and barras bravas -- organised groups of hardcore supporters -- extort teams for free transport to games, free tickets and donations from players' wages.

Racing has denied admission to its own violent fans and said the ban should be extended to leaders of Boca's barra brava La 12, who have been convicted of crimes related to aggressive confrontations with rival fans in 1999 and 2003.

The La 12 hooligans are appealing their sentences.

Before the game was suspended a judge ruled, on a technicality, that the Racing stadium on the outskirts of Buenos Aires could not bar the La 12 leaders, and said they could go to the game if they sat in a special section with a police escort.

REUTERS AY RN1032