ARGENTINE pensioners and football fans clashed with police on Wednesday during a protest in front of Congress, Buenos Aires, against President Javier Milei’s economic policies.

What started as a peaceful demonstration escalated into violent clashes as police deployed water cannon, tear gas and pellets against stone-throwing protesters.

For weeks, pensioners have held weekly protests in the capital demanding higher pensions, citing a precarious standard of living. While previous demonstrations involved minor incidents, including tear gas use against the elderly, Wednesday’s protest was unprecedented in scale.

The government of far-right President Milei, who has championed a policy of public spending cuts since coming to power a year and a half ago, had warned of restrictions on entry to stadiums for those who cause disorder.

Police deployed shotguns and water hoses before the scheduled 5pm protest.

Clashes erupted when a large group of Boca Juniors fans, waving flags and chanting in support of the pensioners, arrived. Police formed a cordon to block their advance toward Congress.

At the rear, a group of elderly protesters were pushed back by high-pressure water cannon fired by two tanks at the perimeter closest to the Legislative Assembly.

In an unprecedented show of unity, fans from Boca Juniors, River Plate and other Argentine football clubs joined pensioners, who have been gathering outside Congress every Wednesday to protest at the government’s harsh austerity measures.

Surrounded by police, protesters chanted, “Don’t touch the elderly.” A man draped in the Argentine flag held a sign that read “Help me fight. You’ll be the next elderly person.”

A resolution published Wednesday by Argentina’s Ministry of Security bans anyone who engages in violent behaviour, disrupts security, traffic, or public order from entering football stadiums.

This means that fans involved in Wednesday’s riots will be barred from attending their team’s games for a period set by the authorities.