River Plate accused of allowing ultras to threaten referee at half-time

A video has emerged of a senior River Plate official appearing to encourage a leader of the club's hooligan gang to threaten the referee at half-time of their crucial match against Belgrano on Sunday in which they were trailing 1-0. River Plate, Argentina's most decorated club, went on to lose the match 2-0 and were relegated to the second division for the first time in their history.

A prosecutor has opened an investigation into the disturbances which followed the match and said he would be "checking all the material" from security cameras.

In his report the referee, Sergio Pezzotta, alleged that he had been threatened with death when a number of men gained access to the referee's room at River's Monumental stadium at half-time.