Hooligans threatened to shoot own players

ARGENTINIAN football authorities are investigating after players from Gimnasia y Esgrima hinted that threats from the club's own fans led their team to throw last week's match against title contenders Boca Juniors.

The club was forced to replay the second 45 minutes of a match that had been abandoned in September after the referee was threatened by the Gimnasia president. Gimnasia were leading 1-0 going into Wednesday's second half but Boca quickly destroyed their provincial opponents with four goals.

Newspaper Ole later reported that hardcore Gimnasio hooligans warned their own players to lose the match in order to stop their closest rivals Estudiantes from winning the title.

"Something happened," defender Ariel Franco cryptically told a local radio station. "Those that were there know that. I won't say that we played scared but it was an unprecedented situation."