Red stripes sunk as River are relegated...

River Plate, Argentina’s most successful domestic club side, have been relegated from top the country’s top division for the first time in their illustrious history.

A distrought River fan can't hold back his tears

River lost in a relegation-promotion play-off versus Belgrano of the Nacional B division, the tie ending 3-1 on aggregate, on Sunday thus ending their 110-year status as a top flight club.

The demotion sparked ugly scenes both inside and all around River’s Monumental Stadium, with angry fans rioting before the final whistle had been blown – the referee halting the match just prior to any added time there may have been. The police moved in using water cannons and tear gas to try and disperse the mobs, as reports filtered through of a death inside the stadium and between 43-55 injuries outside the ground.

Los Millonarios (the Millionaires), as River Plate are known, have won the Argentine Primera division a record 33 times, and have also won the Libertadores Cup twice in their illustrious history. Their youth system has been one of the most famous and productive throughout the world, churning out a number of world class players down the years. However, their poor form over the last three seasons forced them into this ill-fated play-off and they will now spend the 2011-2012 season in the second tier of Argentine league football.