Los de Abajo
Encyclopedia
Los de Abajo is the official supporters group of Universidad de Chile
. They are one of the biggest groups of supporters in Chile
.
style from Argentina. In 1989, when they stole a banner from the archival ultras
group, the group was expulsed from the official group after they refused to give the banner back. After that, the youth group moved to gate 18 of the National Stadium, where Universidad de Chile
played its home games, and they started the new group called Los de Abajo ("The Ones from Below"), because they used to be below the official group before moving to gate 18.
When Universidad de Chile returned to the first division, Los de Abajo began to be more active, mainly as a result of confrontations involving fans of Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chie during the derbies.
In 1994, Universidad de Chile
won its first title in 25 years. The final match was played in the city of El Salvador, a mining town of 10,000 inhabitants in the desert or Chile. The stadium's capacity was of 20,000 but 25,000 supporters of Universidad de Chile
travelled to witness the end of the title drought.
have been very critical and claim that the barras bravas
are the reason for the lack of fans at matches. Although, Los de Abajo never fight fans of Universidad de Chile
, or normal rival fans. The fights are only with other ultras groups, an unusual characteristic of ultras groups in Chile
. They have been also been involved in scuffles with the police.
Los de Abajo is the only supporters groups that has registered members. Normally, those involved in violence are the same registered members and are considered to be outsiders of the "barra" that just go to the stadiums to cause conflict.
fans were known for their opposition at the dictatorship. On the other hand, Pinochet was honorary president of the archirival Colo-Colo, and many universidad fans think that he helped on the building of the stadium with government funds, though they have no proof of this and actually that was only a presidential campaign promise. So for every game played in the Colo-Colo field they like to destroy the "Pinochet Stadium", as they call it.
The group is mainly formed by working-class men, lower-class teens, and students. Los de Abajo make several charity events, and recreational activities. Also, in 1999 they opened the "Escuela Libre Los de Abajo", a free school for teens of low-class and people that didn't finish their basic grades. In 2006 they also open a free pre-university, so the students can study to achieve the university aptitude exam.
Politically, in 2003, they were one of the founding organizations of the Juntos Podemos Más
, a left-wing coalition that includes the Communist Party of Chile
and several others organizations. They had one candidate to deputy on the 2005 parliamentary election
.
Universidad de Chile (football club)
Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.The club was founded on May 24, 1927, as Club Deportivo Universitario. Universidad de Chile is the second most successful and popular football clubs in Chile, having won the...
. They are one of the biggest groups of supporters in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
History
The group initially was formed around 1988, in the worst times of the club, when the youth members of the official group at the time (Imperio Azul, or Blue Empire) started to make a change in the way of supporting the team that was more related to the barra bravaBarra Brava
Barra brava is a name for organized supporter groups of football teams in Latin America. This style of supporting is very similar to European ultras. It includes standing throughout the match, singing and other enthusiastic behavior. Some barras bravas have developed reputations for hooliganism...
style from Argentina. In 1989, when they stole a banner from the archival ultras
Ultras
Ultras are a type of sports fans renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays. They are predominantly European followers of football teams...
group, the group was expulsed from the official group after they refused to give the banner back. After that, the youth group moved to gate 18 of the National Stadium, where Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile (football club)
Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.The club was founded on May 24, 1927, as Club Deportivo Universitario. Universidad de Chile is the second most successful and popular football clubs in Chile, having won the...
played its home games, and they started the new group called Los de Abajo ("The Ones from Below"), because they used to be below the official group before moving to gate 18.
When Universidad de Chile returned to the first division, Los de Abajo began to be more active, mainly as a result of confrontations involving fans of Colo-Colo and Universidad de Chie during the derbies.
In 1994, Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile (football club)
Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.The club was founded on May 24, 1927, as Club Deportivo Universitario. Universidad de Chile is the second most successful and popular football clubs in Chile, having won the...
won its first title in 25 years. The final match was played in the city of El Salvador, a mining town of 10,000 inhabitants in the desert or Chile. The stadium's capacity was of 20,000 but 25,000 supporters of Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile (football club)
Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.The club was founded on May 24, 1927, as Club Deportivo Universitario. Universidad de Chile is the second most successful and popular football clubs in Chile, having won the...
travelled to witness the end of the title drought.
Criticism
From the beginning the group have been criticised for the being violent. The pressNews media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
have been very critical and claim that the barras bravas
Barra Brava
Barra brava is a name for organized supporter groups of football teams in Latin America. This style of supporting is very similar to European ultras. It includes standing throughout the match, singing and other enthusiastic behavior. Some barras bravas have developed reputations for hooliganism...
are the reason for the lack of fans at matches. Although, Los de Abajo never fight fans of Universidad de Chile
Universidad de Chile (football club)
Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.The club was founded on May 24, 1927, as Club Deportivo Universitario. Universidad de Chile is the second most successful and popular football clubs in Chile, having won the...
, or normal rival fans. The fights are only with other ultras groups, an unusual characteristic of ultras groups in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. They have been also been involved in scuffles with the police.
Los de Abajo is the only supporters groups that has registered members. Normally, those involved in violence are the same registered members and are considered to be outsiders of the "barra" that just go to the stadiums to cause conflict.
Social and political activism
Los de Abajo are well known for their left-wing ideas. They were born in the Pinochet dictatorship, and the majority of the Universidad de ChileUniversidad de Chile (football club)
Club Universidad de Chile is a professional football club based in Santiago, Chile, which plays in the Primera División.The club was founded on May 24, 1927, as Club Deportivo Universitario. Universidad de Chile is the second most successful and popular football clubs in Chile, having won the...
fans were known for their opposition at the dictatorship. On the other hand, Pinochet was honorary president of the archirival Colo-Colo, and many universidad fans think that he helped on the building of the stadium with government funds, though they have no proof of this and actually that was only a presidential campaign promise. So for every game played in the Colo-Colo field they like to destroy the "Pinochet Stadium", as they call it.
The group is mainly formed by working-class men, lower-class teens, and students. Los de Abajo make several charity events, and recreational activities. Also, in 1999 they opened the "Escuela Libre Los de Abajo", a free school for teens of low-class and people that didn't finish their basic grades. In 2006 they also open a free pre-university, so the students can study to achieve the university aptitude exam.
Politically, in 2003, they were one of the founding organizations of the Juntos Podemos Más
Juntos Podemos Más
Juntos Podemos Más por Chile is a political coalition created in 2003, consisting of the Communist Party of Chile, the Humanist Party, the Christian Left Party of Chile, and several other smaller left-wing organizations.The...
, a left-wing coalition that includes the Communist Party of Chile
Communist Party of Chile
The Communist Party of Chile is a Chilean political party inspired by the thoughts of Karl Marx and Lenin. It was founded in 1922, as the continuation of the Socialist Workers Party, and in 1934 it established its youth wing, the Communist Youth of Chile .In the last legislative elections in Chile...
and several others organizations. They had one candidate to deputy on the 2005 parliamentary election
Chilean parliamentary election, 2005
The 2005 Chilean parliamentary election took place on December 11, 2005, in conjunction with the presidential election. All of the 120 seats in the Chamber of Deputies were contested, while 20 out of 38 seats in the Senate were up for election . Deputies serve for a period of four years, while...
.