Vélez Sarsfield · Buenos Aires
La Pandilla de Liniers
La Pandilla de Liniers is the barra brava of Vélez Sarsfield: South Africa 2010, the 2021 leadership change, the 2023 admission bans and 2025–2026 cases.
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 Pandilla de Liniers in 30 seconds
La Pandilla de Liniers is the name by which, according to Perfil, the violent faction of Vélez Sarsfield calls itself, the organised group at the Amalfitani distinct from the club's thousands of members. The press records its trip to the 2010 World Cup with Hinchadas Unidas Argentinas, a change of leadership in January 2021, the assault on the squad's youth players in July 2023, an admission ban on members after incidents with Talleres, the attack on police officers in April 2025 and the internal dispute of March 2026.
- Club
- Vélez Sarsfield
- City
- Buenos Aires
- Stadium
- José Amalfitani
- Situation
- Internal dispute and a court accusation against its leader for stabbing a fan, with no sentence (Infobae, March 2026)
Documented history
La Pandilla de Liniers, Vélez Sarsfield's barra brava: history
La Pandilla de Liniers, or «La Pandilla», is the name of Vélez Sarsfield’s barra brava. Perfil 442 (2015) wrote that this is what the club’s violent faction calls itself. The press sources neither date its founding nor explain the origin of the name, but they allow its leadership to be followed since 2021, its incidents with players and police, the cases reported by Infobae and the admission ban measures that also reached members.
A barra with roots in the eighties and the 2010 World Cup
Perfil 442 (September 2015) portrays the relationship between the club and the barra: an official admitted to having been a barra «in a very different era from the present one» and the club’s swimming pool bears the name of a late former leader. The barra travelled to the 2010 South Africa World Cup with Hinchadas Unidas Argentinas; Perfil claims that this trip was financed «by a Kirchnerist local operator», an attribution by the outlet.
See this section's source ↗January 2021: a new leadership
According to Infobae (31 July 2023), Ciminelli, alias Raulo, took the leadership in January 2021, when the previous historic boss «decided to step down». The outlet compares the control he exercises with that of other historic Argentine barras and presents the information as journalistic reconstruction.
See this section's source ↗January 2023: admission ban on members after the incident with Talleres
Tiempo Argentino reported on 31 January 2023, citing IAM Noticias, that the Buenos Aires city courts imposed a 48-month admission ban on about a hundred Vélez members over the incidents with Talleres fans, and questioned that the measure reached ordinary fans. The piece adds that both fan bases «get along well».
See this section's source ↗July 2023: the assault on the squad
Infobae (31 July 2023) says ten barras «surrounded» the cars of youth players at the Villa Olímpica and threatened them after a defeat. The piece tries to explain why the situation between the barra and the squad became explosive.
See this section's source ↗April 2025: the attack on police at an amateur match
Infobae (3 April 2025) reported that 16 barras attacked ten City police officers at an amateur match; the case, led by judge Martín Yadarola, is charged as «aggravated coercion and abuse of weapons». The same piece asserts that «at every show at Vélez the barra sells 1,500 tickets», a claim by the outlet with no court ruling.
See this section's source ↗March 2026: stabbings and a new internal dispute
Infobae (1 March 2026) wrote that Ciminelli, alias Raulo, «ended up accused in court of stabbing another fan» and that the barra was going through an internal dispute with another leader who was given an admission ban. It is an accusation cited by the outlet; no sentence is recorded.
See this section's source ↗Documented friendships
La Nación (October 2011) wrote that «the friendship between Vélez’s fans and the barra» led by Boca «is well known», while Tiempo Argentino (2023) says that with Talleres «both fan bases get along well». These are relationships pointed out by the press, with no pact declared by the groups.
See this section's source ↗March 2015: the fight over tickets
MinutoUno, with a Télam piece of 8 March 2015, reported that two factions of La Pandilla de Liniers clashed at the club’s sports centre over the handling of tickets for home matches and over the sale of tickets for the No Te Va a Gustar concerts at the Amalfitani. The club’s president, Raúl Gámez, said there would be no «favour tickets or protocol tickets». The piece says that members without a membership card were prevented from entering the match against Sarmiento.
See this section's source ↗Frequently asked questions
Getting to know La Pandilla de Liniers
What is La Pandilla de Liniers?
It is Vélez Sarsfield’s barra brava. Perfil 442 (2015) wrote that «La Pandilla» is what the club’s violent faction calls itself.
Is it the same as Vélez’s fan base?
No. La Pandilla is the organised, violent faction; Vélez’s fan base includes thousands of members and supporters with no link to it.
Who leads it?
According to Infobae (2023), Ciminelli, alias Raulo, since January 2021. In March 2026 the same outlet describes him as accused in court of stabbing another fan, amid a dispute with another leader.
What happened with the players in 2023?
Infobae reported on 31 July 2023 that ten barras surrounded the cars of youth players after a defeat and threatened them.
Are there court cases?
Yes. Infobae (April 2025) reported a case for «aggravated coercion and abuse of weapons» over the attack on police, and in March 2026 an accusation of stabbing a fan. No sentence is recorded.
Why was an admission ban applied to members in 2023?
According to Tiempo Argentino, over the incidents with Talleres fans; the outlet questions that it reached ordinary fans.
Does it have friendships with other fan groups?
La Nación (2011) records the friendship between Vélez’s fans and Boca’s barra, and Tiempo Argentino (2023) says that with Talleres both fan bases get along well.
Where does Vélez play?
At the José Amalfitani stadium, in the Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Liniers.
Does La Pandilla de Liniers have a declared ideology?
No source consulted records an ideological self-definition of the group. Perfil 442 (2015) attributes to «a Kirchnerist local operator» the financing of the South Africa 2010 trip; it is an attribution about a trip, not an affiliation of the group.
When was La Pandilla de Liniers founded?
No press source consulted dates its founding. Perfil 442 (2015) records that Raúl Gámez, then the club’s president, admits to having been a barra «in a very different era from the present one», and the piece places the barra in the eighties.
Where is it located at the Amalfitani?
Perfil 442 (2015) records from Gastón Gámez that his son goes «to the middle of the stand»; no source consulted names the exact section.
Who is its rival?
No source consulted documents, with a date and a subject, a rivalry between La Pandilla and any specific barra. Perfil 442 (2015) only says, from Raúl Gámez, that they used to fight «other fan groups».
Have there been internal fights between factions?
Yes. Télam, through MinutoUno (March 2015), reported a clash between two factions of the barra over tickets, and Infobae (March 2026) an internal dispute with another leader.
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.
- Los Gámez, dinastía de barra bravas ↗
442 / Perfil · 21 September 2015
The self-designation «La Pandilla», the relationship with the club and the South Africa 2010 trip.
- Derecho de admisión insólito: la justicia porteña y Vélez castigan a hinchas por portación de bandera ↗
Tiempo Argentino · 31 January 2023
A 48-month admission ban on about a hundred members and the relationship with Talleres’ fans.
- Lo que no se contó de la agresión de la barra de Vélez al plantel y por qué la situación se volvió explosiva ↗
Infobae · 31 July 2023
The January 2021 leadership change and the assault on youth players in July 2023.
- Uno por uno: los nombres y los negocios de los barras de Vélez que atacaron a policías de la Ciudad en un partido amateur ↗
Infobae · 3 April 2025
Attack on police, the case’s charge and the businesses attributed to the barra.
- Apuñalados y ataques a golpes en plena platea: arden las internas en las barras de Vélez y Racing ↗
Infobae · 1 March 2026
The March 2026 internal dispute and the accusation against the leader.
- Impunidad y poder en la barra brava de Boca ↗
La Nación · 31 October 2011
Reported friendship between Vélez’s fans and Boca’s barra.
- Gámez confirmó que "no hay más nada" para una barra ausente ↗
MinutoUno (Télam) · 8 March 2015
Clash between factions over tickets and withdrawal of privileges.
Documentary review: 23 October 2026. English edition: 21 October 2026. Editorial team: Mundo Ultras.
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