Racing Club · Avellaneda
La Guardia Imperial
La Guardia Imperial is the historic name of Racing Club's barra brava: the 2021 change of command, Los Pibes de Racing and the 2026 admission ban.
Illustrative archive photograph. Football ultras · Biso · CC BY 4.0. Framing adapted to the header. This image does not identify the group described.
At a glance
La Guardia Imperial in 30 seconds
La Guardia Imperial is the historic name of the barra brava of Racing Club, the organised group among the Avellaneda supporters, distinct from the fan base as a whole. According to Infobae, since 2021 the barra that dominates the popular stand has identified itself as Los Pibes de Racing, after a dispute with the historic faction; the press sometimes uses «Guardia Imperial» for the official group and sometimes for the dissident one. The sources record arrests in 2023, an admission ban in 2026 and a leader described as a fugitive in October 2026.
- Club
- Racing Club
- City
- Avellaneda
- Stadium
- Presidente Juan Domingo Perón (El Cilindro)
- Stand
- Paravalancha of the Cilindro de Avellaneda
- Situation
- Leader described as a fugitive and a new person in charge of the paravalancha (Infobae, October 2026)
Documented history
La Guardia Imperial, Racing Club's barra brava: history
La Guardia Imperial is the historic name of the barra brava of Racing Club. Since the change of command in July 2021, according to Infobae, the stand has been controlled by Los Pibes de Racing, a faction that emerged from the dissidents, and the press does not always use the names in the same way: La Nación (2023) calls the dissident group «Guardia Imperial», while other outlets associate the name with the official group. The sources allow the stages of the dispute over the Cilindro's paravalancha to be followed, which Infobae distinguishes from the behaviour of the Racing crowd in 2023.
One name and several labels
La Nación (April 2023) wrote that members of «La Guardia Imperial» made up Racing's dissident barrabrava, while Infobae (December 2024) speaks of a group that took control of the popular stand in 2021 by «ousting the old Guardia Imperial». Infobae (January 2025) clarifies that the official group is called Los Pibes de Racing and that the dissidents and the so-called Vieja Guardia Imperial aspire to the stand. The name therefore depends on the date and the outlet.
See this section's source ↗July 2021: the change of command at the Cilindro
According to Infobae (26 July 2021), «the dissident faction of La Guardia Imperial finally won and there was a change of command at the Cilindro». The leader of the until then official faction had delegated the stand to a relative and, since 2016, the Villa Corina faction had been trying to oust them. After the change, banners such as «Los pibes de Racing», «Villa Corina» and «La Vieja Escuela» appeared in the centre of the popular stand. The outlet places the stand's businesses at stake, including the sale of Racing clothing.
See this section's source ↗Internal war (2022–2024)
Infobae (August 2022) recounts an ambush by the new leaders on the previous boss while he was eating in a restaurant. According to La Nación (1 April 2023), 22 members of the dissident faction were arrested before Racing–Huracán, with «knives and chains». Infobae (30 August 2023) reports that Aprevide blocked La Guardia Imperial's arrival at the stadium for the match against Atlético Nacional and that 50 Tribuna Segura operators checked the admission ban at Racing–Boca; the same outlet stresses that «the Racing crowd has been behaving very well». In December 2024, Infobae released videos of the confrontation during the club's elections.
See this section's source ↗The Avellaneda derby and the rivalry with Independiente
Página/12 (2002) dealt with the bloodshed involving the «heavies» of Racing and Independiente, with one dead, in a report on the Avellaneda derby. C5N reported on 15 April 2023 that Racing fans held a «wake» at the door of Independiente's headquarters, on Avenida Mitre, hours before the derby. The sporting rivalry between two neighbouring clubs is one thing and the violence of their barras another.
See this section's source ↗2026: admission ban and tension at the Cilindro
According to Infobae (27 March 2026), the Ministry of Security imposed an indefinite admission ban on the barra's leader; flags also appeared foreshadowing an internal war. La Nación (14 August 2026) says that this leader, «under an admission ban», headed the barra's irruption at the training session before the match with Banfield. Infobae (14 August 2026) adds that a group from the dissident sector of Independiente's barra, «Del Rojo de Verdad», attended a meeting of Los Pibes de Racing; it is an isolated contact and not a declared pact.
See this section's source ↗October 2026: a fugitive leader and a new person in charge of the paravalancha
Infobae (18 October 2026) writes that «the leader of the violent ones» of Racing's barra «is a fugitive from justice» and that another man was left in charge of the Cilindro's paravalancha. This is press information about an ongoing investigation; the sources consulted do not record a final conviction.
See this section's source ↗Ideology and identity · La Guardia Imperial
According to Perfil (October 2006), a banner reading «Kirchner 2007-2011» signed by La Guardia Imperial appeared in the stand. Infobae (July 2021) describes, after the change of command, flags with the crest of the Partido Justicialista and with the face of Néstor Kirchner, and speaks of a «collusion between football's violent people and politics». These are attributions by those outlets, not a statement by the group, and they are not equivalent to the political position of the Racing crowd.
Source of this description ↗Frequently asked questions
Getting to know La Guardia Imperial
What is La Guardia Imperial?
It is the historic name of the barra brava of Racing Club, not of the whole fan base. Since 2021, according to Infobae, the barra that controls the popular stand has identified itself as Los Pibes de Racing.
Why is there talk of Los Pibes de Racing?
Because, according to Infobae (July 2021), a dissident faction of La Guardia Imperial won the stand and its official group came to be called Los Pibes de Racing. The press still uses «Guardia Imperial» for the official group or for the dissident one, depending on the article.
Who runs Racing's barra?
According to Infobae (October 2026), the leader of Los Pibes de Racing is a fugitive from justice and another man was left in charge of the paravalancha. No final conviction is recorded.
Does the leader have an admission ban?
Yes. Infobae (March 2026) reported that the Ministry of Security imposed an indefinite admission ban on him, and La Nación (August 2026) describes him as the head of the fan group «under an admission ban».
What happened in 2021?
According to Infobae (26 July 2021), the dissident faction of La Guardia Imperial, linked to Villa Corina, ousted the official one and changed the command at the Cilindro.
What political links are attributed to it?
Perfil (2006) described a «Kirchner 2007-2011» banner signed by the group, and Infobae (2021) flags of the Partido Justicialista and of Néstor Kirchner, as well as union links. These are attributions by those outlets and not a statement by the group.
Who is its rival?
Independiente, in the Avellaneda derby. Página/12 (2002) and C5N (2023) document episodes tied to that derby.
Has there been recent violence?
Yes. La Nación reported 22 arrests of the dissident faction before the April 2023 Racing–Huracán match, and Infobae (March 2026) the admission ban on the leader and flags foreshadowing an internal war.
When was La Guardia Imperial founded?
No press source consulted dates its founding. Perfil (October 2006) already records a banner signed by the group and Página/12 (2002) deals with the confrontation between the Racing and Independiente barras; earlier stages are not documented in this article.
Where is it located in the Cilindro?
Infobae places its dispute at the Cilindro's paravalancha, but no source consulted specifies the exact end or section.
What does «La Guardia Imperial» mean?
No press source consulted explains the origin of the name.
Sources
The documents behind this history
Each source keeps its date and scope. Titles appear in their original language. An insider account, an announcement and an official decision document different facts.
- La bandera de Kirchner en la barra de Racing | Perfil ↗
Perfil · 14 October 2006
«Kirchner 2007-2011» banner signed by La Guardia Imperial.
- Estalló la interna en la barra de Racing: así ganó la facción disidente con connivencia política y policial ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 26 July 2021
The July 2021 change of command, banners, political flags and the stand's businesses.
- Detuvieron a “Cara de Paty” y a otros 21 miembros de la barra disidente de Racing en la previa del partido con Huracán ↗
La Nación · 1 April 2023
April 2023 arrests and use of the name «La Guardia Imperial» for the dissident barra.
- Página/12 :: Deportes :: El fútbol se va a dormir con el enemigo ↗
Página/12 · Gustavo Veiga · 24 February 2002
Confrontations between the Racing and Independiente barras in the Avellaneda derby.
- Arde la interna en la barra de Racing: los líderes emboscaron al anterior jefe mientras comía en un restaurante ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 18 August 2022
The 2022 internal dispute between the new leaders and the previous boss.
- La inquietante interna en la barra de Racing que puso en alerta a la seguridad de cara al partido ante Boca: los detalles del operativo ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 30 August 2023
Security operation, Aprevide and Tribuna Segura; behaviour of the Racing crowd.
- Así recluta gente la barra disidente de Racing para ganar la tribuna: los nuevos videos del enfrentamiento durante las elecciones ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 17 December 2024
Confrontation during the club's elections and control of the popular stand since 2021.
- Radiografía del 2025 de las barras del fútbol argentino: las internas que están a punto de explotar ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 16 January 2025
The official group Los Pibes de Racing, the dissidents and the Vieja Guardia Imperial in 2025.
- Barras de Racing le hicieron un “velorio” a Independiente a horas del clásico de Avellaneda ↗
C5N · 15 April 2023
«Wake» in front of Independiente's headquarters before the derby.
- El líder de la barra de Racing no podrá ingresar a los estadios y aparecieron banderas que preanuncian una guerra interna ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 27 March 2026
Indefinite admission ban and flags of March 2026.
- La barra brava de Racing irrumpió en la última práctica: clima caliente antes del partido ante Banfield ↗
La Nación · Matías Ruffet · 14 August 2026
Irruption at the training session before the match with Banfield.
- El inquietante lazo de la barra de Racing con un grupo disidente de Independiente en medio de la tensión en la popular de la “Academia” ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 14 August 2026
Attendance of a dissident group of Independiente's barra at a meeting of Los Pibes de Racing.
- Con su jefe prófugo, la barra de Racing tiene nuevo líder: sus antecedentes y la interna que genera preocupación ↗
Infobae · Gustavo Grabia · 18 October 2026
Leader described as a fugitive and new person in charge of the paravalancha, October 2026.
Documentary review: 23 October 2026. English edition: 21 October 2026. Editorial team: Mundo Ultras.
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