Although in recent years Racing's paradigm underwent a transformation that brings it closer to conquests, the modern history of the club laid its foundations under the idea of ​​permanent anguish. So much so that a series of bad administrations led him to Justice and the private sphere. The resistance of its fans, within that reality, was spreading hearts until overcoming devastated economies and Sundays without football. Currently, Racing has returned to being a civil association governed by the partners, as indicated in the statutes of the clubs. In any case, the roots of corporations are still alive in some sectors of the Cylinder.

The Imperial Guard, as the Racing barra is known, is much more than a group of fans who fight for colors, display large flags and organize funerals to mock Independiente's relegation. Based on the concept of business, the faction led by Raúl Guillermo Escobar Barrios has such significant economic income that it has been able to afford some luxuries. For example, ten members of this criminal society disguised as a passion for Racing traveled for seven days aboard a cruise that cost almost two thousand dollars per person. And as if that were not enough, they were present at the World Cup in Brazil and rode in a limousine through Las Vegas before Chino Maidana's fight with Floyd Mayweather. "They have two apartments in Puerto Madero and another five in a building on Calle Italia, in Avellaneda," explained a leader who, for security reasons, preferred not to reveal his identity.

Beyond the handling of clothes in complicity with the police forces, one of the most profitable businesses in the bar is the sale of clothing. This practice is carried out in full view of the whole world through the official website of the club and in the authorized stores that the entity owns at the headquarters of Avellaneda, Villa del Parque and at the premises on Calle Lavalle, in the heart of the city. porteño. Along with the items sold by Topper, the brand that dresses Racing, the violent sell their own t-shirts, tank tops, backpacks, pants and cups, both from the Imperial Guard and from the Racing Stones, another of the shock groups.

The members of the bar, in complicity with the leadership, manufacture their items in clandestine workshops and sell them to Locademia, the club's official venue, which then markets them to fans and even offers some discounts. “I don't know how much money the bar raises; The only thing I can say about it is that everything we sell is licensed," said Gianfranco, manager of the Nogoyá street store when asked by PROFIL. Juan Manuel Gigena, general manager of the store, opted for a much simpler and more worrying path: "I have no idea what they mean," he slipped.

In the run-up to the matches with Independiente for the Liguilla, the bar sold the club close to five thousand products that made a profit of one million pesos. Not satisfied with that, they went for more. On the occasion of the holidays, like any company, they adapted to a commercial move and offered various discounts. For example, the LGI light blue sweatshirt reached a discount of almost two hundred pesos, while the value of the acrylic mug, with the image of a Racing child with a sword, also dropped substantially.

Néstor Lovotti, one of the leaders of the dissident faction, revealed the mechanics of the Imperial Guard: “They receive 700,000 pesos a month, in addition to the favor tickets, clothing and business they have with La Cámpora. All this in exchange for protection and political favors.” In addition, the leader of the El Morro faction, close to the former head of the bar Jaimito Heredia, pointed out: “Racing was for a long time the government club and very important leaders and officials lowered money. I don't want to risk giving names because I know I'm going to have reprisals. In fact I am aware that I am signing my death warrant...”.

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Referring to the strong ties of the violent group, Lovotti said: “The bar has the best relationship with the Avellaneda Police Station and with the leaders of the other fans. In fact, the leaders get together to eat and collaborate with each other, be it with those of Independiente, with La Doce and even with Arsenal. We only had a relationship with the people from Gimnasia, and Huevo, the current boss, was in charge of finishing it”.

Dangerous relationships. The link between the bar and a sector of the leadership reveals a long and painful scourge that is difficult to exterminate. Adrián "Oso" Fernández, the main member and manager of amateur football, is designated as one of the links between the board of directors and the violent, to the point of sitting at the table with the Racing Stones faction.

Another of those targeted is Roberto Torres, the institution's security secretary, who authorizes the bar before each game to hang their flags from the playing field. In fact, his own peers accuse him of having ordered the area to be freed for the fierce attack on the Independiente delegation during the last classic, of having allowed the fans' shield to be portrayed on the posts of one of the Cilindro arches and of having let the flag of the Imperial Guard hang on the bus that took the professional team from the hotel to the Libertadores de América stadium.

In the background, the shadow of Pacheco follows. While the bar is handled with absolute freedom by the Juan Domingo Perón stadium and by the Tita Mattiussi property for inferiors, relatives and friends of Nicolás Pacheco continue in the search for justice. It is that three years after the mysterious murder of the Racing fan in the club's pool, the internal investigation has not yet been carried out so that those accused of the crime stop going to the field, at least until the ruling of the Oral Court 23 is known. The same occurs with the extraordinary assembly requested by the partners, which never took place. Due to this astonishing lack of answers, both legal and managerial, on Sunday the 24th there will be a tribute at the Villa del Parque headquarters as a sign of an unyielding struggle. "I don't dare to talk about Pacheco's death," Lovotti confessed, knowing that it is a forbidden topic for the academic world. "He messed with the wife of a kid from the bar, they wanted to scare him and it went wrong," he added.

This note was published in the Print Edition of Perfil newspaper.