Childish... but funny ~

In the late 70s (I think) Independiente fans were said to have buried seven dead cats in the moat around the pitch at Racing's stadium, an enormous concrete bowl built during the 1950s which carries the endearing name Estadio Presidente Juan Domingo Perón. At the time, the moat was filled in with concrete.

Racing went decades without a championship. And then in 2000, Reinaldo 'Mostaza' Merlo took charge, and had the moat excavated. The cats were found, and presumably given proper burials. In 2001, Merlo managed Racing to the Primera A Apertura title.

There are similar stories across South America I imagine - there are certainly a few involving the Maracana and other Brazilian grounds, as anyone who'd read Futebol by Alex Bellos will know.

 Posted by SamLKelly on 31-05-2008 Go to thread

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